The Labour Court has reserved its judgment, as it is expected to rule on whether Heathfield High School principal Wesley Neumann will resume duties, while the court considers the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) appeal against his reinstatement.  

On Friday, the parties made their submissions after Neumann made an urgent application to the court to have him return to his duties at the school. 

In a statement on Thursday, Education MEC David Maynier said: “The period leading up to Wesley Neumann’s departure from Heathfield High School was characterised by disruption, protests, early school closures, and high absenteeism.

“A small group of teachers encouraged learners not to attend class, and a group of his supporters entered the school without permission to hold meetings with certain learners and teachers. Staff members reported that they felt bullied by Wesley Neumann’s supporters and were afraid to speak up in the past.”

The WCED this week revealed that, in further probing during the ongoing saga, which is at the crux of a nearly five-year court battle, they have uncovered “prima facie evidence of several financial irregularities”. 

Maynier said: “Heathfield High School is recovering from the actions of Wesley Neumann and his associates, so it is vital that this progress is not disrupted. The school is flourishing and has just produced a matric pass rate of 89.9% – the school’s highest in 15 years. We remind his supporters that disrupting schooling is now an offence in terms of Section 3(7) of the South African Schools’ Act, and we will not tolerate any further disruptions at Heathfield High School.”

WCED head, Brent Walters, in an excerpt from his answering affidavit to the Labour Court, said he was constrained to point out that Neumann had “included much irrelevant (and some scandalous) matter in his application”.

“I am advised this is, most likely, to create ‘atmosphere’. It has been an unfortunate feature of this litigation that he presents himself as an innocent victim standing up for the rights of pupils and educators in a fight that he claims he is waging against a so-called pre-1994 regime. In this application, he once again brings politics into his papers – claiming that this case was and is politically driven,” Walters said. 

In an excerpt from Neumann’s affidavit, he submitted that he cannot respond to events that occurred at the school after his dismissal. 

Neumann replied: “I cannot respond to events after I left other than that I became aware that learners, parents, and staff were upset when I was unfairly dismissed. The allegation that there is mobilisation of school activities being disrupted at this point in time, I submit that the affidavit of the chairperson of the school governing body is very informative.” 

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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