Johannesburg — American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has promised to do everything in her power to restore dignity at her leadership academy.
Ms Winfrey addressed the media via satellite in Johannesburg on Monday after allegations of indecent assault surfaced at her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls which was opened earlier this year in the south of the city.
The briefing occurred only hours after 27-year-old, Tiny Virginia Makopo, who was a dorm matron, appeared at the Sebokeng Magistrate's Court.
Ms Makopo, who was granted R3000 bail, faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury committed against six girls aged between 13 and 15-years-old, and a 23-year-old girl. The case has been postponed to 13 December.
"There is nothing more devastating to me than these allegations of misconduct against Ms Makopo by these young girls at my school. I will do everything in my power to ensure the girls' safety and wellbeing is restored," an emotional Ms Winfrey said.
She said her school and pupils would not be let down by the recent controversy despite the staff who initially decided to keep the allegations secret from her.
"No matter what these kids have endured, I will make sure that they would not be diminished by these events.
"The girls were brave and acted because their voices were not being heard. They used their voice and the truth has been prevailed today," she said.
At least 15 girls at the school approached the academy's Chief Executive Officer John Samuel regarding their grievances in early October 2007.
Mr Samuel said on receiving information, they immediately removed Ms Makopo from the campus and notified the police's Child Protection Unit.
"We immediate took action as it is the academy's objective to operate in the best interests of the children," Mr Samuel said.
He said after the allegations, the school had appointed investigators from South Africa and the United States to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry into the claims.
The inquiry was conducted in a manner that supported the safe and nurturing environment to the academy, with minimal disruption to campus life, he added.
On receiving the devastating news, Ms Winfrey flew to South Africa where she personally spoke to the girls.
She said her first priority was to know how many girls were affected and to what extend was there a problem.
On 14 October, she met with the girls and their parents and apologised, highlighting the necessary steps she will take to address the problem.
Ms Winfrey said: "No one can destroy my dream for the school and I will do anything necessary to make sure that this school will be the model of the world."
In 2002, following the request of former president Nelson Mandela, Ms Winfrey donated $10 million to build the academy at Henley on Klip, in Meyerton, in the Vaal region.
On delivering her speech at the time she said: "...I believe education gives young people a greater voice in their own lives and helps them to create a brighter future for their communities and themselves."
The 26-building campus which boasts, a library, a gym, a hostel and a theatre was built to accommodate 450 learners from Grade seven to 12.
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I would just like to wish Oprah and her team all the very best in rectifying this issue. Not many have such a generosity of kindness which extends beyond the giving of money. May you all be blessed for the wonderful work you are doing and may your lives be enriched by your endeavours
All the very best.
An Australian Fan
My heart breaks for what Oprah is now experiencing while attemping to do the reverse. We've all faced this dilemma as we attempt to do our best works in Africa.
I hope and pray that Oprah will also lend her ears to those of us who have been doing works as missionaries in Africa for years, as it may be beneficial to also hear from North Americans their perspectives as well as the African perspective.
I am quite concerned by Oprah's cellphone response (especially the publicity factor of it) as this might just have been a way of putting out a fire - with a greater fire. Any 3rd world country that has learned 'survival asthe mode of life' lends itself to unsafe practices that we may not always have thought through.
Have you considered that that the publicity of that 'cellphone access to Oprah' may just in future jeapordize the lives of those girls in a country where people are desperate to do anything for survival?
Blessings as you find a good resolve!
RevMarieMiller
In the few days since the release of She Stole My Voice: A Documentary About Lesbian Rape, we have been flooded by emails from women who have been sexually assaulted or raped by other women. And a disturbingly large number of these assaults have taken place on the campuses of American colleges and universities.
Victims have repeatedly reported feeling too ashamed to report their experience, and worried that no one would believe them. As it turns out, their fears were justified. There have been multiple accounts of law enforcement officials and even judges refusing to take reports of acts of sexual violence between women seriously, suggesting that rape between women was either impossible or harmless. In reality, female rape can be just as traumatic as male rape, and the community as a whole has a responsibility to make sure that such acts of sexual violence are taken seriously.
During the last decade, American colleges and universities have made great strides in fighting date rape and acquaintance rape. We must now recognize the severity and prevalence of sexual violence between women. In conjunction with the American Academy for Film and Gender Studies, we strongly encourage every college and university to create awareness of sexual violence between women through orientation and outreach programs, and to ensure the availability of crisis assistance for victims of female sexual violence.
Justine Chang, Director Armand Kaye, Director She Stole My Voice: A Documentary about Lesbian Rape