Neumann reinstated by court, what next for Heathfield High?

THE future of the current Heathfield High principal remains unclear as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) mulls over its next steps following a bruising Labour Court defeat ordering it to reinstate Wesley Neumann to the position with backpay.

Neumann was dismissed by the WCED after refusing to reopen the school at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, in line with calls by the school's community at the time. The school remained open and teachers reported for duty, except in cases where they had comorbidities. 

After years in and out of court, the Labour Court this week ordered the WCED to reinstate Neumann, finding him not guilty on all but one charge. It concluded that the  dismissal was not an appropriate sanction.

"The only misconduct established is a single act of insolence; the use of intemperate language in the letter of 26 July 2020, written during a period of extraordinary stress and uncertainty. 

"The first respondent (WCED) is directed to reinstate the applicant (Neumann) to the position of  Principal of Heathfield High School, on the same terms and conditions of employment that existed at the time of his dismissal, with effect from 2 February 2026. The date of reinstatement does not affect the retrospectivity of the reinstatement. The reinstatement is retrospective, and the first respondent is ordered to pay the applicant the remuneration he would have earned from 20 May 2022 to the date of reinstatement," ruled Acting Labour Court Judge Coen de Kock.

Neumann is expected to return to his post on February 2.

Pressed on what comes next and the fate of the current principal, Nadia Annhuizen, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond would only say their legal team was still studying the ruling. 

“The WCED’s legal counsel is currently reviewing the judgment, and a decision on whether to lodge an appeal will be taken in due course,” she said.

The court saga has come at a heavy price, with the department splurging millions on lawyers, mediators and interim principals - including more than R2 million on legal fees alone while pupils paid the ultimate price as the matric pass rate plunged from 84% to about 50% by 2023.

Neuman’s lawyer, Vernon Seymour this week said all his client wanted was to get back to the classroom. 

Speaking to the Cape Times on condition of anonymity, a parent of three former pupils said as parents they did not want their children back at school during lockdown. “I had a mother who was old, I had comorbidities, we didn't want anything coming back home”. 

“But the school was open every day, the children could come to school if they wanted to. The school governing body (SGB) recommended the school be closed. But teachers were there except ones that suffered from comorbidities. 

“After Mr Neumann was gone, the impact was clear. I remember when my child was in Grade 11, the school called us in because my son was struggling a bit. We were part of a whole group and programmes were put in place. Teachers were very active and involved while he was there. After Mr Neumann left, my other son managed to get to matric but also struggled and there wasn’t that same level of intervention. 

“When my first son matriculated, the school had one of the best pass rates. When my second son reached matric, the pass rate was only 51%, the second lowest in the area. There was some intervention the following year when my daughter was in matric and the results improved slightly. At the time, the vice-principal was acting principal, then the WCED brought in an interim principal just for the final term. The following year, we were under the impression the vice-principal would be appointed permanently but instead the WCED placed yet another principal at the school.

“When Mr Neumann was there, you could see many positive changes at the school. After he left, things slowly eroded. There were fights, learners were unruly and at times we were scared to send our children to school. Learners were not in class and gang activity spilled onto the school grounds. I would love to see the school grow back to where it was before,” the former parent said.

Cape Times