Oprah Winfrey Nomvuyo Mzamane

Nomvuyo Mzamane, former headmistress of Oprah Winfrey's South African Leadership Academy, has filed a lawsuit against Winfrey for defamation. Mzamane reportedly claims that Winfrey portrayed her to the media as being "untrustworthy" and also accused her of participating in a cover-up of alleged physical and sexual abuse taking place at the academy.¹

Fast Facts

1. Mzamane started working at Winfrey's academy on December 31, 2006¹
2. Suit was filed on October 3, 2008, in the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court¹
3. Academy staff member, Tiny Makopo, was accused of physically and sexually abusing students in October 2007¹
4. Mzamane was accused of knowing about the abuse and participating in covering it up²
5. Mzamane stated that she knew nothing about the abuse¹
6. Mzamane was terminated¹
7. Mzamane claims that no one will hire her since her termination¹
8. She is said to suffer from "depression, anxiety and insomnia"¹
9. Mzamane is seeking $250,000 plus damages¹

Quotes

"We were forced to file this lawsuit because we didn't get what we wanted a year ago, a public apology."—Tim McGowan, Mzamane's attorney¹

"Before the suit was filed, all [Mzamane] wanted was Oprah to say 'I made a mistake. This lady didn't cover up any abuse.' [Oprah] went on TV and ruined her reputation. So she wanted her to go back on TV and restore her reputation."—McGowan¹

Related Pages on Mahalo

Oprah Winfrey | Nomvuyo Mzamane | Oprah School Abuse | Oprah Sued for Big Give | Oprah Boycott | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Oprah's Big Give | O, The Oprah Magazine | Oprah's Book Club | Oprah 30 Rock

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