Oprah Winfrey spoke out today on the scandal at her Leadership Academy while the former dorm matron accused of abusing six children and one adult was freed on bail.
“This has been one of the most devastating, if not the most devastating experience of my life,” Oprah told a gathering of media in South Africa, via satellite earlier today. “As is often the case, child abuse, sexual abuse happens right within the family. This was also the alleged case here.”
As for the alleged perpetrator, Tiny Makopo, the woman at the center of the scandal — she had her day in court. She appeared inside the Magistrate Courtroom, 13 miles away from Oprah’s Leadership Academy.
Makopo faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault, and criminal injury allegedly committed against the six students and one adult at the school.
Cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom, but the scene outside was a media crush, with a line of people waiting for a spot inside the packed room.
Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson sat behind Makopo once she entered the courtroom. Makopo, who looks young enough to be a student herself, had her hair back in cornrows. She wore a black Adidas shirt and an olive green skirt.
She was soft-spoken during the hearing and rarely made direct contact with anyone. She constantly wiped her hands with a tissue.
When the judge explained the charges and asked what her plea was going to be, she softly whispered, “Not guilty.”
Makopo was released on the equivalent of $450 bail. While out on bail she must report to the police station every Monday. She cannot leave the area, apply for a passport or have contact with anyone associated with the Leadership Academy or the investigation.
Makopo left the courtroom, covered by her friend’s coat. Once inside the waiting vehicle, photographers pounced on top of the car.
Just hours after Makopo’s release, Oprah broke her silence, speaking for the first time to the press since the school scandal was unleashed. She spoke at the press conference via satellite from Chicago, sharing her devastation over the incidents.
“When I first heard about it I spent about a half hour crying, moving room to room in my house. Within an hour I pulled myself together and started making calls and preparing for what to do next, ” Oprah told journalists.
“I was, needless to say, devastated and really shaken to my core when I first heard this news,” she continued. “I was not directly responsible or in charge, although the buck always stops with me, of hiring the dorm parents.”
Oprah also addressed the criticism received from relieving all the dorm matrons from their job.
“I feel that the girls were placed in an atmosphere where they were taught to be fearful and they were taught to literally be silenced,” she said. “All the girls were afraid of repercussions by other dorm matrons, so we immediately removed all the remaining dorm matrons and put teachers in rotation in the dorms.”
One of the alleged abuse victims has since left the school, but Oprah says she can come back at any time.
“I welcome her,” Oprah said. “I welcome the opportunity for her to come back to the school.
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