After almost 20 years running, Oprah Winfrey is closing the current chapter of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG).
The academy will be transformed into a nationwide scholarship programme, expanding support to underprivileged schoolgirls across South Africa.
The academy by Oprah Winfrey, first opened in 2007 and has helped educate more than 1,000 young women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Gauteng Department of Education will take over the academy’s campus in Henley-on-Klip, near Meyerton, as outlined in the original partnership agreement.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile welcomed the decision on Thursday (6 August 2026), with Oprah Winfrey in attendance, saying the provincial government is committed to preserving the academy’s legacy once the Henley-on-Klip campus is officially transferred.
“Since opening its doors in 2007, the Academy has empowered more than 1,000 academically gifted learners from disadvantaged communities through an education founded on academic excellence, leadership, integrity, compassion and purpose,” he said.
Through the new model, academically talented girls will receive scholarships to study at leading schools across South Africa, replacing the academy’s single-campus approach.
