Updated July 30, 2026: This article has been updated to include official responses from Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile and the Department of Basic Education.
Key takeaways: Beyond the academy – Oprah’s next education chapter
- Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) will close after the 2027 academic year, ending a 20-year chapter.
- The 22-acre Gauteng campus will transfer to the Gauteng Department of Education, as agreed when the school was founded.
- Oprah Winfrey will replace the boarding school model with a nationwide scholarship programme.
- The new model aims to support twice as many girls across South Africa.
- Current learners will complete their education with full financial and academic support.
- More than 1,000 young women have graduated from OWLAG since it opened in 2007.
JOHANNESBURG — Oprah Winfrey will close the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) after the 2027 academic year, ending the South Africa girls’ academy’s 20-year run and replacing it with a nationwide scholarship programme.
The transition will see the Gauteng campus handed to the Gauteng Department of Education, while current learners complete their schooling with full financial support.
The announcement comes after over the years the academy produced some of the country’s top-performing learners, with graduates earning places at leading universities and building careers across multiple industries.
The academy’s academic record includes producing some of South Africa’s top-performing matric learners, many of whom have gone on to leading universities and professional careers.
What happens after Oprah Winfrey’s South Africa girls’ academy closes?
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in 2007 in Henley on Klip, Gauteng, following discussions between Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela.
After the final 2027 academic year, the 22-acre campus will return to the Gauteng Department of Education, fulfilling the original partnership agreement under which the school was established.
Instead of operating one residential campus, Winfrey will fund more learners through a nationwide scholarship programme.
Representatives for Winfrey said the new model is expected to double the number of girls who receive educational support across South Africa.
Current learners will complete their education without interruption. Winfrey will continue covering tuition, academic support and related costs through graduation. Some learners will move to other top-tier schools with their fees fully paid.
“The dream that began with one academy will now reach even farther, opening doors for even more young women across South Africa through scholarships and educational partnerships,” Winfrey said.
Oprah Winfrey shifts to a nationwide scholarship programme
Since opening in 2007, OWLAG has graduated more than 1,000 young women.
OWLAG graduates now work in medicine, law, engineering, business, education and the creative industries.
“The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women,” Winfrey said. “I’m excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa.”
The new scholarship programme will expand Winfrey’s education initiative beyond a single boarding school, allowing it to support more young women across South Africa.
Government backs Oprah Winfrey academy transition
South Africa’s education authorities have welcomed the transition of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), saying the academy’s legacy will continue after the campus is transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education at the end of the 2027 academic year.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile said the transition follows the original partnership agreement and will preserve the academy’s long-standing contribution to education.
“This transition will ensure that the Academy’s legacy of academic excellence, leadership development, and expanding opportunities through education continues to benefit future generations of learners,” Maile said.
He added that current learners would complete their education with uninterrupted academic, financial and personal support before the residential campus is transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education.
“We commend Ms Winfrey for her commitment, compassion and investment in the education of young South African girls. Her contribution extends far beyond the walls of the academy and will be remembered for years to come.”
The Department of Basic Education also welcomed the announcement, saying the academy will transition to the Gauteng Department of Education under Maile’s leadership in line with the original partnership agreement.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Ms Oprah Winfrey for two decades of extraordinary investment in the education and empowerment of South Africa’s young women. We are committed to preserving the Academy’s legacy of academic excellence, leadership and opportunity for future generations,” the department said.
Related reading
Readers can also explore NOWinSA’s guide to the top private schools and 2026 fees and its analysis of South Africa’s top-performing school districts.
More information about the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is available on the school’s website.
The transition details were first outlined by Oprah Daily.
