Oprah charity donates R5m to SA school

2010-10-21 22:14

Johannesburg - A charity affiliated with Oprah Winfrey has contributed at least R5m toward renovating a school in South Africa, where the group already has helped fund a primary school and Winfrey has built a lavish $40m academy for girls.

The refurbished Vele High School in Limpopo will feature 16 classrooms and accommodate some 640 students when it is officially complete in January, Gregg Sherkin, programme officer for Oprah's Angel Network, said on Thursday.

Students have continued their studies at the school in the Vhembe district throughout the renovations, which included a library and media centre, computer lab and science labs.

"It's a school that is hopefully going to become a hub for dynamic learning for an under-resourced community," said Sherkin, adding that others will be able to come in for adult-based education and computer training.

Oprah's Angel Network has provided at least R5m toward the project, with the department of education funding the majority of the construction costs.

The public charity was launched in 1998 with donations from viewers of Winfrey's talk show and also helped fund the Seven Fountains Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal in 2007.

The charity, however, has since stopped accepting donations following Winfrey's decision to end her Chicago-based show in 2011 after 25 years on the air.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in January 2007 in Henley-on-Klip.

- AP