While the academy will be closed, Winfrey insists the mission to uplift young women will continue. Former talk show host Oprah Winfrey has confirmed that her South African girls’ academy will close in 2027, ending nearly two decades of operations. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, located in Henley-on-Klip, Gauteng, was officially opened in January 2007 after years of planning between Winfrey and former South African president Nelson Mandela. Uplifting womenWhile the academy will be closed, Winfrey insists the mission to uplift young women will continue through scholarships and expanded support. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women.