Oprah Winfrey made a second trip to her South African all-girls school in recent weeks to apologize to parents following allegations of sexual and physical abuse there. Here, she attends the Jan. 2 opening of the school.
The New York Daily News reports that in recent weeks, several allegations made by students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls claim that school matrons fondled and beat the female students. One incident claims a matron allegedly grabbed a girl by the throat and tossed her into a wall.
The allegations came to light after a student ran away from the school's dorms, reportedly because the abuse had become overwhelming.
"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Winfrey told families in an emergency meeting on Sunday at the South African school. The school's principal and two matrons were placed on leave following the allegations.
Over the past few weeks, Winfrey has flown to South Africa twice to deal with the scandal.
Winfrey, who built and opened the school in January 2007, initially gave the students her telephone number and mailing address when the school opened, so that they could contact her directly. Upon opening the $46 million school, Winfrey proclaimed the day as "the proudest, greatest day of my life and a dream come true."
AOL.com
