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Tearful Oprah Sees Her Dream Unravel
Topic Started: Oct 31 2007, 09:16 PM (133 Views)
Mercury
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Johannesburg October 31 2007

Oprah Winfrey, the United States talk show queen, has asked parents for forgiveness following allegations of abuse at her exclusive girls' school in South Africa.

At an emotional meeting at her Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg, Winfrey said she would do everything in her power to ensure a prosecution, telling the packed marquee: "I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

Winfrey has visited the school for underprivileged girls she bankrolls at Henley-on-Klip at least twice in the past few weeks, after accusations that one of the "dorm parents", or matrons, had abused pupils.

Reports said the matron apparently grabbed a girl by the throat and threw her against a wall. The woman is also accused of swearing at the girls and sexually fondling at least one pupil. The allegations surfaced when a pupil ran away from the school, claiming the situation had become intolerable.

Winfrey once claimed that the academy would become a "model school for the rest of the world", but is now seeing her dream unravel. At the meeting, she said she had given the alleged victims her email address, personal phone number and postal address so that they could contact her at any time.

Apart from the dorm parent, Winfrey has sent at least two other staff members, including the principal, named only as Dr Mzimane, on leave following the accusations. The alleged victims have accused Mzimane of failing to act after pupils complained of abuse. Police and special US investigators are now looking into the matter.

Winfrey, reportedly in tears, told the meeting: "I trusted her (Dr Mzimane). When I appointed her, I thought she was passionate about the children of Africa. But I've been disappointed."

A father of one of the pupils responded by telling her: "It's not your fault. We don't blame you. You trusted them. You have more passion for the school than anyone else in this country."

Winfrey spent $40-million (about R260-million) building the centre, and helped to interview many of the 3 500 girls who applied for the first 150 places.

When the abuse accusations first surfaced, Winfrey said: "Nothing is more serious than an allegation of misconduct by an adult against any girl at the academy. I'll do everything to ensure their safety."

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