Oprah hails Free State heroes
Oprah called up the five cleaners to the stage
Oprah Winfrey received an honorary degree from the University of the Free State in South Africa on Friday (24.06.11).
The 57-year-old media mogul – who opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Kilp, south of Johannesburg in 2007 – accepted the honour from the institution which is infamous for troubled race relations after four white students were shown to humiliate black housekeeping staff five years ago.
A leaked video showed the workers eating a stew the students had mimed spiking with urine.
The students have since apologised and been forgiven by the cleaners. The incident also led to significant initiatives by the university to address racism on the campus, and in the country.
At the ceremony on Friday (24.06.11) Oprah called up the five cleaners to the stage, calling them “heroes”.
She said: “What has happened here at Free State in terms of racial reconciliation, of peace, of harmony, of one heart understanding and opening itself to another heart, is nothing short of a miracle. It is truly what the new South Africa is all about”.
And Winfrey told the workers what they did was “a move in the direction of an open heart space, being able to say 'I forgive you'."
She congratulated the university, the community and the rector, telling them that they showed the world that “we are more alike than different”.
- Oprah decided to accept an offer to visit the university to speak to students after reading works by Jonathan Jansen - the university’s first black rector.
Sapa reports that an emotional Queen of Talk accepted the honorary doctorate after a hug from Prof Jansen.
Huge cheers broke out during the dignified academic ceremony when UFS Chancellor Khotso Mokhele told Winfrey: "You are now a Kovsie" - slang used for students of the university.
She was greeted with cheers, with Mokhele also telling her she was now “Doctor Queen of Tears” — referring to the content of her talk shows, which often involves the tissues coming out.
After the academic programme, Winfrey returned to the stage in an orange skirt and pink blouse to talk to the audience and take questions from students.
“I just came 8000 miles to say to you thank you Vry-Staat [Free State in Afrikaans]. I’m here to share the moment with you.”
She spoke for over an hour — on how she put her talk shows together, using videos of women who inspired her in life.
She also shared her story of growing up in poverty and how she became “a self-made woman”.
Winfrey told the crowd that the university aroused her interest after she read an article by Prof Jansen on not accepting mediocrity.
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somaartakeit
Hayi Sham Ophrah, you are being misled, these guys were paid (settlement) they didnt' voluntarily or through the goodness of their hearts 'forgive' you are much smarter than this farce,Report Abuse
TDK
Oprhah doesn't deserved a doctorate bestowed upon her. She must go to school to earn it. For building a school in SA and she is now a Doctor. Bull. We have people like Khoza who is now Dr too and Colonel/Corporal which he did not even earn. People like Oprah and Khoza were only recognized simply because they got money for to do whatever they do. We have another unschooled Shangaan music king who was also awarded with a doctorate.Why do we have to go to school?
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Admire
I studied at UFS, and I am proud that the university I can proudly associate myself with is take decision that show South Africans and the world where South Africa comes from. We need to forgive each other and stop complaining like bunch of idiots.Report Abuse
Bdoobs
The Boeremagg in the varsity must initiate Oprah, prepare a urinated stew for her and make her run around a rugby field bare footed.Report Abuse
