Police investigate death of baby at Oprah Winfrey’s South African school
By ANITuesday, February 22, 2011
WASHINGTON - Police in Johannesburg are considering whether to file charges after authorities found a dead newborn baby on the grounds of Oprah Winfrey’s elite South African high school.
In a statement, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy said it was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into the birth last week, and in the meantime, it was providing counseling for students, reports RadarOnline.
It was earlier reported that a 17-year-old student gave birth at the school and was taken to the hospital after she started bleeding excessively.
The baby was found in a plastic bag filled with bloodied clothes.
Officials at the school said they were respecting and protecting the pupil’s privacy and not releasing her name.
Winfrey opened the school in 2007 with the dream “of building a first-class school to nurture, educate and turn gifted South African girls from impoverished backgrounds into the country’s future leaders,” according to the school’s website.
However, soon after it opened, the school was engulfed in controversy when a dormitory supervisor was accused of trying to kiss and fondle students.
The supervisor was acquitted of sexual assault charges last year. (ANI)
