Oprah Winfrey is still affected after the sad incidents that took place at the highly-hyped $40 million South African school that opened its gates on January 2. The famous talk show host stated on Monday that she cried when she learnt about the abuse.

“This has been one of the most devastating, if not the most devastating, experience of my life,” Oprah said. “When I first heard about it I spent about a half-hour going around my house crying,” she added.

The dormitory matron that faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury against at least six teenage students, Tiny Virginia Makopo, 27 still claims that she is innocent. She was released on a 3,000 rand ($458) and left after the court hearing hiding her head under a blanket.

Makopo was accused of physical and verbal assaults against the students, here including grabbing them by the neck, hurling them against the wall and soliciting a minor girl to perform indecent acts. Winfrey, who had previously talked openly about her childhood sexual abuses, vowed that tougher attention would be paid when staff is to be chosen.

“We are removing the dorm parents, and as I have said to the girls, (we are) cleaning house from top to bottom,” Oprah promised in a videoconference from Chicago.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is the materialization of a promise made by Oprah to former president Nelson Mandela to alleviate the education conditions in South Africa and curb the racial divisions. Oprah praised the girls that had the courage to talk about the abuses, this being the leadership she was looking to develop in the exclusive academy. On her previous visits, students were commanded to “put on happy faces” and not to complain.