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 Last days at Oprah school were hell - girls
    Solly Maphumulo
    April 06 2009 at 06:47AM
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For two weeks, four girls at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls were kept in isolation under guard while an investigation into their alleged sexual misconduct was conducted.

The girls are among the seven eventually expelled for allegedly sexually harassing their schoolmates and encouraging them to have relationships with fellow pupils.

During the two weeks, the girls were not allowed to go to classes or communicate with other pupils.

Speaking to The Star, the girls claimed there were security guards stationed outside the hostel to ensure they did not speak to other pupils.

'I am going to be expelled anyway'
Their exclusion from school activities was so complete that instead of going to the canteen for meals, food was brought to them by kitchen staff.
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They were also made to sleep in separate rooms.

Lisa Halliday, spokesperson for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, said the girls on "in-school suspension" could not socialise with other learners. She said the guards were there to ensure the pupils were safe. They were never isolated.

The girls said the first two days were hell. They had sobbed bitterly because they knew they were going to be expelled, and were unable to eat.

One of the 15-year-olds to whom The Star spoke was found guilty of making physical contact of a sexual nature with another girl on campus, harassing and bullying pupils by pairing the girls up to "date" others.

'I am grateful for every opportunity we got there'
She was also found to be dishonest initially by not telling investigators the whole truth.

Defending herself, the girl said she had not been involved in any form of sexual harassment. However, she did not deny making physical contact with other pupils.

"If they (pupils) say I was touching other learners, it's true.

"But no one had complained to me about it. Obviously if you touch someone, if they are uncomfortable they will tell you."

She said that after two days she stopped crying. "I asked myself, what's the point? I am going to be expelled anyway."

On March 25 the girls attended a hearing that lasted for two hours.


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