Matron at Oprah's academy arrested

A female employee at Oprah Winfrey's all-girls school in South Africa has been arrested on abuse charges.

The chat show host has twice visited the Henley-on-Klip Leadership Academy to offer support after a pupil claimed that she had been fondled. At least six other girls said they had been verbally abused, grabbed by the neck, hit or thrown against a wall.

Police spokesman Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that a 27-year-old dormitory matron was arrested on Thursday and is being investigated on charges including assault, indecent assault, crimen injuria and soliciting underage girls to perform indecent acts.

The pupils said they had complained about the alleged abuse to principal Mbulelo Mzimane, but she had failed to take action. Both she and two matrons were subsequently suspended and counselling was offered to the school's 150 boarders.

Winfrey opened the £19 million academy last year and personally interviewed many of the 3,500 South African girls from low income families who applied for a place.