Former talk show host Oprah Winfrey has confirmed that her South African girls’ academy will close its doors at the end of 2027, drawing to a close nearly two decades of operations at one of the country’s most high-profile philanthropic education projects.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, situated in Henley-on-Klip in Gauteng, was officially opened in January 2007 after years of planning between Winfrey and former president Nelson Mandela. Since its inception, the academy has educated more than 1 000 pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them access to world‑class facilities and opportunities.
While the physical campus will cease operations, Winfrey has stressed that her commitment to uplifting young women remains unchanged. Instead of maintaining a single institution, her foundation will redirect its resources towards scholarships and expanded support initiatives aimed at broadening access to education.
Transition to Gauteng Department of Education
Under the transition plan, the Gauteng Department of Education will take over the school’s operations once it closes in 2027. Oprah’s foundation will fund tuition for current learners and expand scholarship opportunities beyond the academy model.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile welcomed the development and expressed gratitude for the academy’s contribution to education in the province.
“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.”
Maile commended Winfrey for her sustained commitment and investment in the education of young South African girls, saying her impact reaches far beyond the school’s walls and will be remembered for years to come.
Winfrey has assured families that no learner currently enrolled will be disadvantaged by the closure. Every pupil will complete her studies with uninterrupted academic, financial and personal 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.”
A Dream Bigger Than One Campus
For Winfrey, the decision marks not an end but a strategic shift.
“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,” Winfrey said. “It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”
She reiterated that tuition costs for current learners will be covered until they graduate, ensuring a seamless transition for the final cohorts.
The final two classes will complete their studies before the academy officially closes at the end of 2027, closing a significant chapter in South Africa’s education landscape.
Born From a Conversation With Madiba
The academy was born from a conversation Winfrey had with Nelson Mandela in 2000 about the transformative power of education in breaking the cycle of poverty. Deeply moved by the challenges facing young girls in disadvantaged communities, and inspired by her own upbringing, Winfrey committed substantial resources to the project.
She invested approximately $40 million — more than R700 million at today’s exchange rate — to build the state‑of‑the‑art boarding school. The campus boasts modern residences, science laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and technology centres designed to rival some of the best schools globally.
At its launch in 2007, the academy was hailed as a landmark initiative, symbolising international solidarity and belief in South Africa’s youth. It quickly developed a reputation for academic excellence, leadership development and strong matric results.
Early Challenges and Recovery
The journey was not without difficulty. Shortly after opening, the academy faced intense public scrutiny following allegations of abuse involving a dormitory staff member.
Winfrey personally travelled to South Africa to meet with pupils and their families, later describing the episode as one of the most devastating experiences of her life. The incident prompted internal reviews and strengthened safeguarding measures at the school.
Despite the early controversy, the academy recovered and continued to build its standing as a centre for excellence. Many of its graduates have gone on to attend leading universities in South Africa and abroad, pursuing careers in medicine, law, science, the arts and social activism.
A Lasting Legacy
Reflecting on the academy’s impact, Winfrey has described it as her “greatest legacy”, noting that the achievements of its graduates have surpassed even her initial expectations.
The shift towards scholarships and expanded outreach represents a symbolic change in approach — moving from a single, prestigious campus to a broader model designed to reach more young women across different contexts.
Education analysts say the move could potentially extend Winfrey’s impact beyond Gauteng, depending on how the scholarship programme is structured and implemented.
For many alumnae, however, the Henley-on-Klip campus will remain a place of profound personal transformation — a space where opportunity, mentorship and high expectations converged.
As the academy prepares for its final intake cycles, the focus remains firmly on ensuring that current pupils complete their education without disruption. By the end of 2027, the gates will close on the physical institution, but the broader mission — to invest in the limitless potential of young women — will continue under a new model.
In the words of its founder, the dream was always bigger than a building. With the academy’s final classes set to graduate over the next two years, its story will shift from bricks and mortar to the lives shaped within them — and to the scholarships intended to carry that vision into the future.
