{"id":297499,"date":"2026-02-03T14:12:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/former-principals-return-to-heathfield-high-blocked-by-education-department-appeal\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:18:16","slug":"former-principals-return-to-heathfield-high-blocked-by-education-department-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/former-principals-return-to-heathfield-high-blocked-by-education-department-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Former principal’s return to Heathfield High blocked by education department appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CAPE TOWN –<\/strong> Five years later, the legal battle between the Western Cape Education Department (WCED<\/a>) and former Heathfield <\/a>High School principal, Wesley Neumann, remains a constant debate after the WCED alleges pamphlets were reportedly issued at the school announcing his return to work on Friday 30 January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WCED\"
Wesley Neumann alongside his lawyer and lead counsel on the right, Vernon Seymour, during one of the court proceedings. Advocates Joey Moses and Rod Solomons also greatly assisted the case, Seymour adds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The former principal, who won a Labour Court judgment ordering his reinstatement after a five-year legal battle that began with his \u201cunfair\u201d dismissal in October 2021, was expected to return to his position this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the WCED’s appeal application has automatically suspended the court order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neumann was dismissed for misconduct and insubordination after he allegedly refused to allow children back to school after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the appeal application, the WCED argues the Labour Court committed \u201cmultiple legal and factual errors\u201d when reviewing the Education Labour Relations Council\u2019s (ELRC) arbitration award that had upheld Neumann\u2019s dismissal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pamphlet controversy sparks minister’s concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the latest incident, David Maynier, provincial education minister, said he was “deeply concerned” that an alleged group of “Neumann\u2019s supporters” reportedly handed out pamphlets to learners announcing his return to the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WCED\"
Letters that was reportedly shared at the school announcing former principal Wesley Neumann’s return to Heathfield High School on Friday 30 January. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“The group\u2019s actions caused distress and disruption, and clearly demonstrate that they don\u2019t care about the best interests of learners. In terms of section 18(1) of the Superior Courts Act, the Labour Court judgment is suspended, which means the order to reinstate is suspended. He has now applied for an exception to this rule, and the judge has postponed the matter because Mr Neumann\u2019s attorney bungled their application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So he will not be able to return to his position next week,” Maynier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saps and law enforcement were allegedly present at the school on Monday morning 2 February to “ensure that teaching and learning was not disrupted”, Maynier said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This step was taken in light of the actions by Neumann\u2019s supporters last week, when they handed out pamphlets to learners announcing his return to the school, causing distress and disruption. We will not tolerate the disruption of teaching and learning at Heathfield High School, and we remind his supporters that disrupting schooling is now an offence in terms Section 3(7) of the South African Schools\u2019 Act,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Smear campaign” of education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Neumann’s lawyer, Vernon Seymour, says he wants to refer the WCED back to the judgement of the labour court that previously announced his reinstatement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Those are the facts. We want to appeal to Minister Maynier to please refrain from the personal attacks on Mr Neumann. It is hurtful to him and his family,” Seymour said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Special Action Committee \u2013 Education (SAC-E) \u2013 a lobby group focussing on education issues-also showed their support for Neumann and says there is a “smear campaign of education”, at Heathfield High.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ Dismissed principal celebrates vindication with family after 5-year court battle with WCED<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“SAC-E notes with profound dismay and outrage the reckless and inflammatory public statements made by the Western Cape MEC for Education, Mr David Maynier, in which he sought to distort facts, criminalize community support, and further assassinate the character of Mr Neumann,” said chairperson, Terrence Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He alleges that the WCED’s statements are “reckless, misleading, and politically malicious.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We place it firmly on record that neither Mr Neumann nor SAC-E has engaged in any unlawful conduct. At no stage has Mr Neumann encouraged disruption, intimidation, or violence. Unable to bully the judiciary into a predetermined outcome, the MEC has now resorted to securitizing a school environment, invoking SAPS, and criminalising pamphlets in order to manufacture a false narrative of disorder,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People’s Post <\/em>reached out to Heathfield High School for comment but they could not respond before the time of publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ Legal battle continues as WCED appeals Heathfield principal\u2019s reinstatement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Five-year legal battle continues as pamphlet distribution causes disruption at Heathfield High over former principal’s blocked 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