CAPE TOWN – On the eve of a court battle between the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and former Heathfield High School principal Wesley Neumann the WCED has filed an answering affidavit responding to Neumann’s latest court application.
The former principal is set to appear at the Labour Court in Cape Town at 10:00 tomorrow for his latest court appearance, according to the Special Action Committee – Education (SAC-E), a lobby group focusing on education issues.
Provincial Education Minister David Maynier outlined multiple issues in the department’s submission in the WCED’s latest media release on the matter, alleging that Neumann’s departure from Heathfield High 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,” he added.
The former principal, who won a Labour Court judgment ordering his reinstatement after a five-year legal battle that began with his “unfair” dismissal in October 2021, was expected to return to his position earlier this month. However, the WCED’s appeal application has automatically suspended the court order.
Maynier also alleges that “staff members reported that they had felt bullied by Wesley Neumann’s supporters and had been afraid to speak up in the past.”
Court solidarity
However, SAC-E continue to show their support for Neumann through a media release, stating he will approach the Labour Court on an urgent basis on Friday 13 February to seek an enforcement order to compel the WCED to comply with the judgment of Judge Coen de Kock.
“This follows the decision of Justice Makura who, on Friday 30 January, dismissed the WCED’s application to have the matter struck from the roll. The court’s ruling once again affirmed that the WCED’s procedural manoeuvres lack merit and that the reinstatement judgment remains valid, binding and enforceable,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the SAC-E alleges that the WCED has “continued to delay compliance, unnecessarily prolonging a matter that has already caused significant harm to Mr Neumann and instability within the Heathfield High School community.”
“We call on educators, unions, civil society organisations, parents, learners and community activists to stand in solidarity with Mr Neumann,” the statement added. “Supporters are urged to attend the picket at 08:30 outside the Labour Court, 113 Loop Street, Cape Town, ahead of court proceedings at 10:00.”
When People’s Post asked Neumann’s lawyer, Vernon Seymour, for comment he referred it to their enforcement reply affidavit.
Furthermore, the WCED also alleged that the curator principals appointed by the department picked up “financial irregularities” during Neumann’s tenure at Heathfield High.
“These allegations were investigated, and prima facie evidence of several financial irregularities was uncovered.” said Maynier. “Teachers have expressed concerns for their safety should demonstrations be intensified, which would also have a debilitating effect on learners.”
“False narrative,” says education group
SAC-E chairperson Terrence Smith reported the WCED was “spinning an incorrect narrative in the media, painting SAC-E as disruptive individuals hell-bent on preventing schooling to occur at Heathfield High School.
“The WCED conveniently forgets that when Mr Neumann took over as principal he improved the matric pass rate from 74 to 82%. The WCED should take full responsibility for the disruption of the Education processes at Heathfield High and stop this emotional deflection of the truth by abusing the media. The judiciary and the public can see right through what they are trying to do.”
People’s Post reached out to Heathfield High School principal Nadia Aanhuizen for comment, but she declined.
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