lawsuit filed by one of the headmistresses at the Academy before the trial began. In March 2007, some parents complained because they were only allowed to visit their children once a month and the girls were only allowed to use their cell phones on weekends. John Samuels, the executive head of the school responded to the complaints by appealing to security and school spirit. Praise There have also been reports of praise for the school. According to Masechaba Hine, whose daughter and granddaughter both attend the school, her children "have no problems about the school, they are happy about everything." Hine has been so pleased with the experience that she even praised Winfrey personally, saying, "Oprah is an angel, she is God-sent…She came to my rescue when my husband was not working." Praise from Nelson Mandela One of the academy's most vocal fans was Nelson Mandela, who called Winfrey his hero because she understood that South Africa's gains in democracy would be nullified unless future generations were educated. Praise from Bill Clinton The academy was honoured by Bill Clinton when he featured it in his book Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World as an example of how to give back to the world. Clinton predicted that the school would change the lives of many young women and interviewed Winfrey to find out why she decided to build the school. Winfrey explained that caring teachers "made education an open door" for her and that she wanted to help girls who grew up like her, "economically disadvantaged, but not poor in mind or spirit". See also List of boarding schools Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago References External links "Educate a Woman, You Educate a Nation" - South Africa Aims to Improve its Education for Girls WNN – Women News Network. 28 August 2007. Lys Anzia Press release: Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela and South Africa's Ministry of Education break ground for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa. (2002, 6 December). The Oprah Winfrey Foundation. Retrieved 14 January 2007. Sakoana, T. (21 August 2006) Oprah's African dream realised. International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC). Retrieved 10 January 2007. Boarding schools in South Africa Oprah Winfrey Educational institutions established in 2007 Private schools in Gauteng Girls' schools in South Africa 2007 establishments in South Africa Henley on Klip