Oprah to close SA girls’ academy in 2027, shift to scholarships and expanded support

Oprah Winfrey has confirmed the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley-on-Klip, Gauteng, will close in 2027, and said the school’s mission will continue through scholarships and expanded support for young women.

What is changing

The boarding academy, which opened in January 2007 after planning between Winfrey and former president Nelson Mandela, has educated more than 1 000 students. Winfrey said the plan is to shift from operating a single campus to funding tuition and expanding opportunities beyond the school.

Transition and support for current pupils

The Gauteng Department of Education will take over the school’s operations once it closes. Winfrey’s foundation will redirect resources to cover tuition for current learners and to broaden scholarship support.

“Throughout the transition, the Academy will continue its commitment to the holistic development of every student and to its growing network of alumnae through mentorship, leadership development and higher education support.”

Winfrey also said:

“The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus.”

Official comment from the province

Gauteng MEC for Education, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, thanked the academy for its contribution to education in the province and said the department would preserve the academy’s legacy.

“Through the transition of the Academy’s assets to the Gauteng Department of Education, the Department will ensure that the Academy’s legacy of academic excellence, leadership development, and the creation of opportunities through education continues to benefit future generations of learners.”

Legacy and background

Winfrey invested about $40 million to build the academy, which the source describes as a state‑of‑the‑art boarding school with science laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and residences. The project grew out of a 2000 conversation between Winfrey and Nelson Mandela about education’s role in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Challenges and closure timeline

The academy faced controversy shortly after it opened when allegations arose of abuse by a dormitory staff member; Winfrey travelled to South Africa to meet pupils and parents and later described the incident as one of the most devastating experiences of her life. Despite that episode, the school continued and built a reputation for academic and leadership development.

Winfrey has stated that every student currently enrolled will complete her education with uninterrupted academic, financial and personal support. The final two classes will finish their studies before the academy officially closes at the end of 2027.

What changes for future beneficiaries

The announcement marks a move from a single-campus model to a broader scholarship and outreach approach intended to reach more young women. Winfrey’s foundation will fund tuition for displaced students until graduation and expand opportunities through scholarships and other support.