Oprah Winfrey to close South Africa girls' academy in 2027; operations to transition to Gauteng Department of Education

Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa will close in 2027, transitioning its operations to the Gauteng Department of Education. Since its inception in 2007, the academy has graduated over 1,000 students, fulfilling Winfrey's vision of empowering young women through education.¹²³⁴⁵⁶

In a statement, Winfrey expressed her excitement for the next chapter, stating, “I’m excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago.” The academy's closure aligns with the original partnership agreement, which envisioned a return to local governance.

As the academy concludes its operations, Winfrey plans to focus on a scholarship program for girls, ensuring that those unable to complete their education at the academy will have their tuition covered at other top-tier schools. Her representatives confirmed, “girls who are unable to finish their schooling at the Academy will go to other top-tier schools with their tuition paid for in total by Ms. Winfrey through their graduation.”

Winfrey emphasized the broader mission of the academy, stating, “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.” The academy's legacy will continue through the lives it has transformed, as noted by alumna-turned-CEO Kirsten, who said, “If you change one woman’s life, she’ll go on to change her children’s lives, her community’s lives.”