Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey has denied reports that she is threatening to shut down her girls' school in South Africa following allegations of sexual abuse.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has been rocked by two big scandals since its opening in 2007.

In March, a group of pupils were expelled after they were accused of sexually harassing fellow students, and just nine months after its launch, a dormitory matron was charged with assaulting and abusing six young students, reported femalefirst.co.uk

The media mogul recently flew out to South Africa to attend an art show organised by the academy's students and is reported to have used the opportunity to reprimand staff and demand an end to the headline-grabbing incidents or face permanent closure.

"Winfrey read the riot act and basically said she would consider closing the school if she hears of any more incidents. But Winfrey's publicist has dismissed the allegations," said a source.