Oprah's S.Africa school abuse suspect gets bail

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A former dormitory matron charged with abusing students at Oprah Winfrey's school for girls was freed on bail on Monday after a brief court appearance.

Virginia Mokgobo, 27, left the Sebokeng magistrate court, south of Johannesburg, with a blanket over her head. The court said the case was postponed to December 13 to allow for further investigations.

She was arrested on Thursday on charges including assault, indecent assault and soliciting under-age girls to perform indecent acts.

Mokgobo was released on bail of 3,000 rand ($458) in a high profile case in which at least seven victims have already submitted statements, police have said.

Winfrey is due to hold a video news conference from Chicago at 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday.

Oprah's posh $40 million academy has been dogged by controversy since it opened in January with a launch attended by singers Mariah Carey and Tina Turner, actor Sydney Poitier and filmmaker Spike Lee.

In March, some parents complained the school was too strict and its restrictions on visits, phone calls and email contact were comparable to rules in prisons.

Then in May, some parents complained their children were not allowed junk food and, when they visited the school, they had to go through a security gate.

Oprah has asked parents to forgive her for letting them down, according to South African press reports.