November 6th, 2007
At last night’s Glamour 2007 Women of the Year Awards, presentee (and 2001 Glamour Woman of the Year recipient) Diane Sawyer spoke to OK! about her pal Oprah Winfrey’s recent South African school scandal. On Monday, Sawyer interviewed Oprah about the school controversy for Good Morning America.
“I thought it was beautifully handled,” said Sawyer, of Oprah’s actions following the abuse reports. “I know she is aching and her heart is broken from this. But she is doing everything she can possibly do and I think it’s demonstrating to people everywhere what we do when a child says they need help.”
Trouble at the leadership academy began two weeks ago when several students accused a dorm matron of physical and sexual abuse. The woman was suspended and eventually dismissed from her job at the school. She was later arrested on charges of assault and indecent assault and was released on bail yesterday morning.
In response to the allegations, Oprah has given each student a cell phone with her phone number programmed into it. Oprah, herself a victim of childhood abuse, has called the current situation, “one of the most, if not the most, devastating experiences of my life.”
November 5th, 2007
The dorm matron accused of sexual and physical misconduct at
Oprah Winfrey’s South African school has posted bail and was released after a
court appearance on Monday in Johannesburg.
Virginia Mogkobo was arrested on Thursday for assault,
indecent assault and soliciting minor girls to perform indecent acts. The
27-year-old was released on 3,000 rand bail ($450) and the case has been
suspended until Dec. 13 to permit for further investigation during that time.
Oprah flew to South Africa
late last week to the Oprah
Winfrey Leadership
Academy to lend her hand
and expressed her “devastation” at the
situation.
“It has shaken me to my core,” she said on Monday.
The 53-year-old’s plan now is to “clean house” and start anew.
“We are removing the dorm parents, and as I have said to the
girls, (we are) cleaning house from top to bottom,” she announced. “My
experience with child predators is that no one ever, ever abuses just one child.”
October 29th, 2007 / Author: cwillett
When the Oprah Winfrey Leadership School opened in January of this year in South Africa, it was to provide a beacon of hope to young women with otherwise hopeless futures. However, with the uncovering of recent allegations of sexual and physical abuse, the project has been cast into an unfavorable light.
Thus, this Sunday, Oprah made the trek to the school to host an emergency meeting with parents. “I’ve disappointed you,” the chat queen reportedly told them. “I’m so sorry.”
While police and other authorities continue to investigate the matter, the Daily News is reporting that Oprah actually provided the students her personal contact information, including her private e-mail address and phone number, so they may contact her at any time.
October 19th, 2007
A dorm matron at Oprah Winfrey’s South African girls-only boarding school has been suspended under suspicion of serious misconduct, Johannesburg police confirm.
While details weren’t disclosed, Chief Executive Officer John Samuel said an investigation was launched at Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls ”based on one serious claim of misconduct involving a dormitory parent.”
Oprah expressed tremendous concern and devastation over the allegation, which is also being investigated by South Africa’s Child Protection Services and both U.S. and South African private detectives.
”Nothing is more serious or devastating to me than an allegation of misconduct by an adult against any girl at the academy,” the mogul said in a statement.
The headmistress of the academy has also agreed to a paid leave of absence as to ensure an unbiased investigation, CEO Samuel said.
Oprah opened the school in January to provide disadvantaged girls a suitable education.
