Ex-Oprah School Leader Sues for Defamation

The former headmaster of Oprah Winfrey's South African Leadership Academy for Girls, filed a defamation lawsuit against the TV star in Philadelphia court Friday, according to People magazine.

Nomvuyo Mzamane claims she had nothing to do with the allegations that are still unfolding in criminal court in South Africa. Mzamane says she suffers from "depression, anxiety and insomnia," and her professional reputation has been ruined as a result of the allegations.

Court documents in the civil suit say Winfrey "launched what amounted to a defamatory campaign" against Mzamane late last year by implying in comments to the media that Mzamane is "untrustworthy, failed the students of the academy, did not care about the students at the academy, knew of alleged physical and sexual abuse at the academy and participated in a cover-up of the alleged abuse."
Mzamane, 39, also filed a defamation suit against the blog the Huffington Post.

Mzamane has said there was no cover-up at the school and she knew nothing about the allegations.

Since her termination, Mzamane has not been able to find comparable work and suffers from "depression, anxiety and insomnia," the suit states. She is asking for $50,000 for each of the five different claims, according to People.

Meanwhile, the trial for Tiny Virginia Makopo will continue Oct. 22 in South Africa. The 28-year-old woman is accused of indecently assaulting and abusing six teenagers at Oprah Winfrey's school for poor South African girls.

Oprah School Pictures

U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, centre, and students are seen during the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Winfrey opened a school Tuesday for disadvantaged girls, fulfilling a promise she made to former President Nelson Mandela six years ago and giving more than 150 students a chance for a better future. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey and learners cut the ribbon at the official opening of her Leadership Academy for Girls School at Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Winfrey opened the world class school for poor but talented South African girls fulfilling a long-cherished dream and a promise to her hero, Nelson Mandela. (AP Photo/Denis Farell)

U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, second left, and students are seen during the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Winfrey opened a school Tuesday for disadvantaged girls, fulfilling a promise she made to former President Nelson Mandela six years ago and giving more than 150 students a chance for a better future. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

This photo supplied by Harpo Productions Inc. U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, right, shares a podium with former South African President Nelson Mandela, left, as students look on, during the official opening of Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls School at Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. Winfrey opened the world class school for poor but talented South African girls fulfilling a long-cherished dream and a promise to Mandela. (AP Photo/Harpo Productions Inc)

Talk show host and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey talks to journalists before the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Meyerton, outside Johannesburg January 2, 2007. Winfrey started the private learning and residential institution for girls in grades 7-12 who show outstanding promise despite their social circumstances. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA)

US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, center front, applauds with schoolgirls in Johannesburg, Monday Aug. 20, 2006, during her brief vists to South Africa to interview prospective pupils for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. South African police questioned eight people Friday, August 25, 2006, after discovering an investment scam that used Winfrey's name. Some 500 hopefuls crowded into a community center in the eastern city of Grahamstown, South Africa, after being told that they had to make asimple payment of 10 rands (US$1.4,1 euro) and would receive 1,200 rands (US$168, 131 euros) per month for 10 years. (AP Photo/Benny Gool)