Washington
(ANI):
The
former
headmistress
of
Oprah
Winfrey's
South
African
all-girls
academy
has
denied
being
aware
of
the
alleged
sexual
abuse
claims
in
the
school.
On
Nov
5,
Winfrey
announced
that
Nomvuyo
Mzamane's
contract
would
not
be
renewed,
signifying
that
school
officials
had
ignored
complaints
from
the
girls
and
tried
to
keep
allegations
of
abuse
from
her.
However,
she
has
claimed
that
she
had
no
prior
knowledge
of
the
ongoing
abuse
in
the
school
premises,
insisting
there
was
no
"cover-up".
Mzamane
slammed
the
press
after
various
reports
claimed
that
she
knew
a
staff
member
had
molested
a
number
of
the
young
pupils.
"Contrary
to
reports,
I
had
no
knowledge
of
abuse.
I
did
not
and
would
never
participate
in
any
such
cover-up," e!online
quoted
Mzamane,
as
saying
in
a
statement
issued
through
her
U.S.-based
lawyer,
Timothy
McGown.
She
also
said
that
she
was
"shocked"
and
"saddened"
by
the
revelations
and
would
have
done
something
about
it
had
she
known."
“As
the
head
of
the
academy,
my
track
record
had
been
of
one
who
acted
decisively
and
in
the
best
interests
of
the
child
where
there
was
event
a
hint
of
inappropriate
speech
or
action
on
campus," she
added.
Former
dorm
matron
Virginia
Mokgobo,
27,
was
arrested
on
29
October
on
numerous
charges,
including
assault,
indecent
assault
and
soliciting
underage
girls
to
perform
indecent
acts,
after
a
local
newspaper
article
brought
attention
to
the
matter
in
October.
A
total
of
15
victims
have
come
forward.
Mokgobo
has
been
bailed
pending
further
investigation.
Winfrey,
who
was
a
victim
of
child
abuse
herself,
promised
an
overhaul
of
the
school
and
said
she
had
apologized
to
parents.
Winfrey
opened
her
Leadership
Academy
for
Girls
outside
Johannesburg
on
Jan.
2,
with
celebrities
including
Tina
Turner
and
Spike
Lee
in
attendance,
as
well
as
former
President
Nelson
Mandela.