Oprah Winfrey has announced plans to close the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, nearly two decades after its establishment. The academy, located south of Johannesburg, was founded in 2007 following a commitment Winfrey made to Nelson Mandela to support the education of disadvantaged girls in the country.

The school, which cost approximately $40 million to develop, features extensive facilities including science laboratories, a theatre, a health centre, and a beauty salon. Since its inception, the academy has graduated more than 1,000 students, many of whom have attributed their improved family circumstances to the education they received there.

Winfrey stated that two additional cohorts of students will complete their studies before the campus is transferred to local education authorities. Rather than continuing to operate the academy, Winfrey intends to shift her focus toward providing scholarships that will enable girls to attend leading academic schools across South Africa. This change is part of her ongoing commitment to advancing educational opportunities beyond a single institution.

The academy’s early years were marred by controversy when a dormitory matron was charged with abusing pupils. The woman was acquitted in 2010, a development that Winfrey described as “devastating.” Despite this, the school maintained its mission to nurture leadership and academic excellence among disadvantaged girls.

The decision to close the academy marks a significant shift in Winfrey's educational philanthropy in South Africa, aiming to broaden access through scholarship programs while concluding the direct management of the boarding school.