Oprah Winfrey to close South Africa girls academy in 2027
The 52-acre campus near Johannesburg will be transferred to the Gauteng provincial government following an agreement established at the school's founding.
In 2007, the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) was a high-profile event attended by Nelson Mandela, featuring a campus designed as an elite sanctuary for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. By the end of the 2027 academic year, that era of private, high-investment education will conclude as the campus is handed over to the Gauteng provincial government.
The closure marks a shift in strategy from a single-campus boarding model to a decentralized scholarship network. According to the Arise and Newsday, the transition is not a sudden pivot but follows the original agreement reached when the school was established, which mandated the eventual transfer of the facility to South African education authorities.
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The scale of the 52-acre campus near Johannesburg underscores the "elite" nature of the project that drew early scrutiny. The facility includes 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a 10,000-volume library, and a 600-seat theater. When it first opened, the academy was criticized for its lavish infrastructure, which reportedly included a beauty salon and a yoga studio. Critics questioned whether such significant spending—with reports on the initial investment varying between $40 million, according to Arise, and more than $100 million, as reported by Mediaweek—could have been more effectively used to support a larger number of students across the country.
Winfrey has now addressed that specific criticism by expanding her philanthropic reach. She stated,
"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."
Oprah Winfrey, via Arise
The transition will disrupt the lives of 281 students currently enrolled. To mitigate this, the academy has confirmed that any student who does not graduate before the 2027 closure will receive a full scholarship to complete their education at other leading institutions. This ensures that the transition from a private sanctuary to a state-run system does not leave current pupils without financial support.
Despite the current focus on the handover, the academy's history has been shadowed by allegations of mismanagement and abuse. Only months after the 2007 opening, students accused a dormitory matron of physical and sexual abuse. Winfrey responded by traveling to South Africa, issuing a public apology, and commissioning an independent investigation. The staff member was later cleared of all charges. While the announcement of the 2027 closure prompted renewed online speculation that mismanagement played a role, a consultant for the foundation, Nico Olwagen, has dismissed those claims.
The school's output remains a primary point of defense for the model's efficacy, though data on its success varies by source:
| Metric | Source: Arise / Mediaweek / Olorisupergal | Source: Newsday (via Foundation) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Graduates | More than 1,000 | More than 500 |
Graduates have moved into professional roles as lawyers, doctors, and engineers. One alumna, Andronica Klaas, who now serves as a senior engineering lead at Meta, noted that the campus environment taught her that "preparation, character and purpose mattered more than where I came from," according to Arise.
The Gauteng Department of Education, led by Provincial Minister Lebogang Maile, has stated its commitment to preserving the legacy of the institution. The department will assume full responsibility for the property and its operations once the 2027 academic year ends.
The provincial government has not yet determined exactly how the 52-acre campus and its specialized facilities will be used under public administration.
Timeline of the Academy's Evolution
- 2002: Oprah Winfrey meets Nelson Mandela, sparking the inspiration for the project.
- 2007: The academy opens near Johannesburg.
- 2012: The institution celebrates its first graduation.
- 2027: The academic year concludes with the formal handover of the campus.
The transition follows a long-term blueprint established at the school's inception. According to Newsday, the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation funded and ran the school with the explicit agreement that the property would eventually be transferred to the provincial education department. This planned exit allows the foundation to pivot from a centralized boarding model to a national scholarship program.
This strategic shift is designed to overcome the inherent limitations of a single campus. As reported by Olorisupergal, Winfrey believes that expanding financial support will create more opportunities for deserving female students than the academy could possibly educate on its own. By moving toward a decentralized system, the initiative aims to reach a larger volume of academically talented girls across various communities in South Africa.
The immediate priority for the Gauteng Department of Education involves the continuity of care for the 281 currently enrolled students. Provincial Minister Lebogang Maile has confirmed that these pupils will maintain uninterrupted financial support through the transition. For those who will not graduate by the 2027 deadline, the next step involves the coordination of full scholarships at other top-tier institutions to ensure their education is completed.
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