Oprah Winfrey Announces Closure of South African Girls' Academy Next Year

Oprah Winfrey confirmed that the school she established for disadvantaged girls near Johannesburg will cease operations at the conclusion of the next academic year. Launched in 2007 following conversations with former President Nelson Mandela, the academy has educated more than 500 graduates who have gone on to study at top institutions worldwide. Under an original agreement, the campus - spanning 52 acres with classrooms, science and computer labs, a library and a theater - will be handed over to the Gauteng provincial education department, though future use of the property has not been disclosed.

Winfrey's charitable foundation will maintain its commitment to South African girls by expanding a national scholarship program that places high-achieving students in leading schools across the country. Gauteng Education Minister Lebogang Maile assured that those presently enrolled will be able to complete their education with uninterrupted funding. The school previously faced controversy in 2007 when a dormitory matron was accused of abuse, leading to an investigation and her acquittal in 2010.