Oprah Winfrey to Close South Africa Leadership Academy in 2027, Expand Scholarship Programme

Oprah Winfrey has announced that her renowned Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa will officially close at the end of 2027, marking the end of nearly two decades of empowering young women through education.

The academy, established in 2007, has provided high-quality education to academically talented girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, becoming one of Africa's most recognised educational initiatives focused on developing future female leaders.

Rather than shutting down completely, the school will transition into a public institution under the management of the Gauteng provincial government.

The handover is intended to ensure that the academy continues serving South African students while preserving its educational legacy under the country's public education system.

The transition also reflects a broader effort to integrate the school's facilities and educational standards into South Africa's public school network.

Explaining the decision, Oprah Winfrey said transferring the academy to government management will allow her foundation to redirect resources toward expanding its scholarship programme.

According to her, the new strategy will enable the foundation to support twice as many South African girls by providing scholarships that open access to quality education across a wider range of institutions.

The move shifts the foundation's focus from operating a single school to investing in educational opportunities that can reach a larger number of deserving students.

Since opening its doors in 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has transformed the lives of hundreds of academically gifted girls from underprivileged communities.

The institution has earned a reputation for academic excellence, leadership development and mentorship, producing graduates who have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in South Africa and internationally.

Winfrey established the academy with the vision of equipping young women with the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills needed to contribute to their communities and drive positive change.

Although the academy will cease operating under Oprah Winfrey's foundation after 2027, its mission to empower young women through education will continue under public management.

At the same time, the expansion of the foundation's scholarship programme is expected to create educational opportunities for many more girls across South Africa, ensuring that Oprah Winfrey's long-standing commitment to girls' education and leadership development continues beyond the academy's original model.