Oprah Winfrey to close her South Africa school for girls

Key Points:

• Oprah Winfrey announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will close at the end of the 2027 academic year, with the campus being handed over to local education authorities as originally planned.
• The school, launched nearly 20 years ago to support underprivileged girls and inspired by Nelson Mandela, has graduated over 1,000 students and will offer full scholarships to current students who have not yet graduated.
• Despite rumors of mismanagement causing the closure, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation denied such claims, emphasizing that the closure aligns with Winfrey's broader mission to support girls' education through scholarships nationwide.
• The Gauteng province education department pledged to preserve the academy’s legacy and ensure the institution continues to serve the community, though the future use of the campus remains undecided.
• Since its 2007 opening, the school faced criticism for its lavish facilities and past abuse allegations against a former staff member, who was later cleared; many graduates have gone on to successful careers in various fields.