Oprah Windfrey has made a tearful apology to the families of students affected by the child abuse allegations that have rocked her African all-girls academy.

"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," the talk-show queen told families in an emergency meeting at the South African, news site News24.com reported.

Oprah canceled all appointments and flew to South Africa twice in the past few weeks since the news broke of allegations that one of the matrons fondled a girl and that other pupils had been physically abused.

Winfrey, who has spoken openly about being abused as a child, reportedly gave the girls her personal telephone number, her e-mail address and her mailing address so that they could contact her around the clock.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy opened in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg, in January, and aimed to provide quality education to underprivileged girls.

Oprah described the day of the opening as "The proudest, greatest day of my life and a dream come true."