American media mogul Oprah Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will close at the conclusion of the 2027 academic year, bringing an end to the boarding school’s operations after two decades. In line with the original founding agreement, the expansive campus located in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg, will be transferred to Gauteng’s provincial education department. Enrolled students who have not yet graduated by the time of the closure will be provided with full scholarships to complete their secondary education at other top-tier institutions.
Winfrey launched the $40 million academy in 2007 following a 2002 meeting with anti-apartheid icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Designed to provide world-class education to academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, the institution has graduated over 1,000 young women who have gone on to careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and executives. Addressing the transition, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation denied online rumors attributing the closure to financial or administrative mismanagement, clarifying that the shift was part of a planned long-term strategy. Moving forward, the foundation plans to transition its resources toward a nationwide scholarship initiative aimed at supporting a broader population of young women across South Africa.
“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey, 72, said in an official statement. “It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education. I’m excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago.”
Although specific operational plans for the physical site have not been disclosed, officials from Gauteng’s Department of Education stated they remain committed to preserving the academy’s legacy and continuing its mission under public management. Over its history, the school navigated early controversies, including debate over its lavish campus amenities—such as two theaters and a beauty salon—and a high-profile 2007 investigation into staff misconduct. Despite these early challenges, the academy established a strong academic record, maintaining a 100% matriculation pass rate for its graduating classes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/
