Oprah Winfrey has come under fire from parents of children attending her all-girl leadership academy in South Africa--for keeping them away from their kids.

As the media mogul opened a second South African school on Friday, the parents of kids attending her first educational facility outside Johannesburg were on the attack.

They claim strict visitation rules are far from ideal and they want greater access to their children.

A small group of mothers has compared the school's restrictions on visits and phone calls to life in a prison.

The concerned moms reveal they're only allowed to spend two hours a month with their daughters, who are full-time students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in Henley-on-Klip.

Frances Mans, the foster mother of student Gweneth Mulder, tells South Africa's Media 24 network her recent visit to the school was a "nightmare."

She explains, "We had only two hours to see my child. Surely this isn't a prison."

A second mother, Angela Conradie, reveals her homesick daughter is very upset about the school rules: "Michelle phones me in tears sometimes, and then I don't know what to say to her."

If you don't like the rules, then take your kids out of there.

I'm sure there's plenty of girls waiting for a chance to attend the school.

Oprah made it clear up front what the rules are. Don't like them, take your kids out and give another kid a chance. Stop yer b*tching people.

I'd like to know why South Africa and not an inner city in the US somewhere.

Oooooo, I know the answer...

Oprah stated that when she asked inner city kids abt what they would want they replied Ipods, clothes, bling, etc. it hurt her that kids have no value for a free education and what that can offer them in their later years. Kids in Africa LOVE school and education. They don't care abt clothes, CD's, Ipods, material things.

It is her money, she can help who she wants. She does also help charities here in America, so it's not like she doesn't help kids here.

Not all kids here want all that materialistic stuff. A solid school and education would do wonders for many inner city kids. Sadly, they don't get that. I know it is her money and she can spend it as she sees fit. I just think she threw in the towel too soon.

My boyfriend agrees with you. He told me that same thing when he asked why Oprah helped establish a school over there rather than here. He said the same thing abt Angelina Jolie and Madonna adopting overseas kids rather than giving some kid from here a chance.

I don't know, I just feel kids are kids and if a group of kids can get an education than so be it. Same thing with the adoption of kids from overseas. But these women have done so much here, it is just the fact that the "good" they do here gets overshadowed by other important stuff like their "personal life", what parties are they attending, will they marry, will they get a divorce, etc. etc. etc.

Your boyfriend is a very wise man! ;) :D

I know what you are saying, Oprah is STILL doing a world of good, I just never understood why Africa and not the US.

My boyfriend a wise man??? More like a "WISE ASS"...:lol:

I do see what you are saying though. There are so many kids HERE who would love a chance at having a great education. I would have loved to see her get kids from different areas that are at most risk. I just hate that we live in a country where education is available and we have many kids who don't know how good they have it and take it for granted. These kids in Africa don't have things to take for granted.

My boyfriend a wise man??? More like a "WISE ASS"...:lol:

I do see what you are saying though. There are so many kids HERE who would love a chance at having a great education. I would have loved to see her get kids from different areas that are at most risk. I just hate that we live in a country where education is available and we have many kids who don't know how good they have it and take it for granted. These kids in Africa don't have things to take for granted.


That is true, but isn't the school ONLY for girls?

That is true, but isn't the school ONLY for girls?
Yep. I think because of the fact that these girls wouldn't have any other chance at an education since the girls in this particular place are doomed to be wed at a young age and not have a chance to better themselves. I am not really sure. But that is what I had heard. A lot of African girls are raped and their families disown them because of that or they get treated as second class citizens (or worse), they end up as prostitutes or die young. I think Oprah wants to give these girls a chance that she knows they won't otherwise have. Something we are blessed to have in our own country.

Yep. I think because of the fact that these girls wouldn't have any other chance at an education since the girls in this particular place are doomed to be wed at a young age and not have a chance to better themselves. I am not really sure. But that is what I had heard. A lot of African girls are raped and their families disown them because of that or they get treated as second class citizens (or worse), they end up as prostitutes or die young. I think Oprah wants to give these girls a chance that she knows they won't otherwise have. Something we are blessed to have in our own country.

Hmmmm, interesting