Oprah in SA on 'secret visit'
30/06/2008 08:36  - (SA)  

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Thinus Ferreira, Die Burger

Johannesburg - Talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey paid another surreptitious visit to South Africa at the weekend for a secret celebration at her private girls' school where, as usual, she had her guests enthralled.

The guests and pupils were sworn to secrecy before the event.

They were forbidden to tell anyone about the evening, including who had been invited and that Oprah was going to be in the country.

All the pupils and guests had to sign an agreement stipulating that they were not allowed to have cameras or cellphones with them and that they would not try to take any photos.

Apparently Oprah pays secret visits every month to South Africa and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls at Henley-on-Klip near Vereeniging.

She decided to visit her school personally to keep in touch with what was happening and to see how the girls were doing.

In light of the court case against the school's former matron, who was accused of indecent assault on some of the girls, Oprah wanted to make sure things at the school were put right, that the girls were happy and that the institution was better managed.

Oprah flew from London to Johannesburg on her private jet after attending part of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations.

Violin virtuoso was special guest

Oprah's entourage during her latest trip to England and South Africa included her good friend Gayle King.

South African violin virtuoso, 11-year-old In-Cha, was the special guest star at the school's dinner.

Her debut album Violin Superstar was released in February and has already sold 5 000 copies.

Oprah and the school's executive head, John Samuel, gave speeches at the dinner and later in the evening the girls danced and Oprah joined them.

A source said: "The girls enjoyed the evening with Oprah tremendously.

"Oprah joined them spontaneously; they began dancing around her and there was hardly a bodyguard in sight," said the source.

During a short break in In-Cha's performance, Oprah went to surprise her in her dressing room and everyone was quite astonished when the talk-show queen walked in without her entourage.

Apparently they were so shocked that one of the background dancers fainted and another teenage girl burst into tears.

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