Bail for Oprah School dormitory matron

JOHANNESBURG – A dormitory matron accused of indecent assault on pupils at Oprah Winfrey’s school for disadvantaged girls was freed on bail yesterday, hours before the US celebrity is to answer media questions about the scandal.

Tiny Virginia Makopo, 27, faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury committed against six students aged 13-15 and a 23-year-old at the school. The baby-faced dormitory parent, who twisted her braids nervously and blinked back tears, said she was ‘not guilty’ during the bail application hearing at a Johannesburg magistrate’s court, where the charges were read.The magistrate allowed her to go free on a bond of 3 000 rands until her next court date on December 13.Makopo, who was arrested Thursday, was not asked to plead formally.Prosecutor Alta Nieuwoudt asked for bail to be set at 5 000 rands, noting the “position of trust and responsibility” she held.But Magistrate Thelma Simpson said the court also had to consider what was affordable for Makopo, who said she earned R4 972 (nearly US$750) after deductions and that family members depended on her income.Makopo said she was unmarried and had no children.Simpson also noted that Makopo had no previous convictions or other pending allegations against her.She said Makopo was to report to police four times a week and have nothing to do with the school or the complainants.”The allegations and charges against you are very serious,” Simpson said.”These kind of offences are very prevalent in this court.”South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual and child abuse in the world.The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls announced October 17 that a dormitory matron had been suspended amid allegations of serious misconduct.In a statement posted on the school’s Web site Friday, Winfrey, who has spoken in the past of being abused as a child, said “It is my deepest hope that the accused is brought to justice and that this serves as a reminder that any time a child has the courage to step forward, it is our duty as adults to listen and take immediate action.”Nampa-APThe baby-faced dormitory parent, who twisted her braids nervously and blinked back tears, said she was ‘not guilty’ during the bail application hearing at a Johannesburg magistrate’s court, where the charges were read.The magistrate allowed her to go free on a bond of 3 000 rands until her next court date on December 13.Makopo, who was arrested Thursday, was not asked to plead formally.Prosecutor Alta Nieuwoudt asked for bail to be set at 5 000 rands, noting the “position of trust and responsibility” she held.But Magistrate Thelma Simpson said the court also had to consider what was affordable for Makopo, who said she earned R4 972 (nearly US$750) after deductions and that family members depended on her income.Makopo said she was unmarried and had no children.Simpson also noted that Makopo had no previous convictions or other pending allegations against her.She said Makopo was to report to police four times a week and have nothing to do with the school or the complainants.”The allegations and charges against you are very serious,” Simpson said.”These kind of offences are very prevalent in this court.”South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual and child abuse in the world.The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls announced October 17 that a dormitory matron had been suspended amid allegations of serious misconduct.In a statement posted on the school’s Web site Friday, Winfrey, who has spoken in the past of being abused as a child, said “It is my deepest hope that the accused is brought to justice and that this serves as a reminder that any time a child has the courage to step forward, it is our duty as adults to listen and take immediate action.”Nampa-AP