OPRAH DEFENDS SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOL

The recent expulsion of four girls and suspension of three others was the second scandal to hit the Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in 2007 to groom bright children from deprived backgrounds for a brilliant career.

A dormitory matron is currently on trial accused of abuse and sexual assault.

"I have made several mistakes and one of them was being overprotective of the girls, which has led to an impression that the school is isolating them from society," Winfrey told the Weekend Argus.

She said she had also underestimated the extent of homesickness among girls at the boarding school.

Last month, four students were expelled and three others suspended. South African media at the time said they were accused of trying to force students into relationships and to engage in sexual contact.

Winfrey herself has not given details of the misconduct. But she said it was "insulting" that the family of one of the expelled girls had complained to the press even though she had been warned before about her behaviour.

The high school just outside Johannesburg opened with a blaze of publicity in January 2007 with about 150 girls and is to grow to full capacity in 2011 with about 450 girls.