A group of mothers of some of the students at Winfrey's Leadership Academy claim "the strict visitation rules are far from ideal and they want greater access to their children." The mothers claim that they are only allowed to see their children for a mere two hours a month at the girl's boarding school outside Johannesburg. One mother, Angela Conradie, said her homesick daughter "phones me in tears sometimes, and then I don't know what to say to her".
Harpo Productions responded; "Our goal is to protect the health, welfare and well being of the students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. As with other boarding schools, we provide a structured, safe and nurturing environment in which the girls can learn and develop."
John Samuels, executive head of the school, sees nothing wrong with the system.
"We have the security and well being of the girls at heart, in every respect," he said. "They are our priority. If there's too much movement on the premises at the weekend, it disturbs the school spirit."
Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey has pressed on, opening a second school in South Africa.
The Seven Fountains Primary School, funded by Oprah's Angel Network charity, cost $1.6 million to create, according to reports. The school is public and schools both girls and boys. It is much bigger than the Leadership Academy for Girls, with 25 classrooms, a computer center and two sports fields. Solar power and a vegetable garden are also part of the campus which also recycles rain water and uses seesaws and merry-go-rounds to pump water.
