Former Heathfield High principal Wesley Neumann during one of his final addresses as principal.
Exactly two years after Wesley Neumann’s dismissal from Heathfield High School the embroiled former principal has not given up the fight to be reinstated.
On the eve of the second year anniversary of his dismissal - which was on Monday May 20 - he expressed his appreciation to all those who’ve supported him and he compared his fight with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to the biblical story of the David and Goliath battle.
He said it had been 731 days since he last received a salary to provide and care for his family after diligently serving the Heathfield school community for 14 years to the best of my ability.
“For two years now, the WCED has been using every application possible to delay my matter from being heard before the court. In the legal fraternity, this strategy is referred to as Stalingrad and as a deliberate consequence; it has cost the taxpayer more than R3.4 million in legal costs, and more ‘delay applications’ are in the pipeline.”
Neumann faced disciplinary action on September 16, 2020, for not reopening the school during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite being instructed to do so by the head of the department, Brian Schreuder. Mr Schreuder's email required all Grade 12 students to attend school in person every day from August 3, 2020, until the start of their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
Mr Neumann declined to comply due to safety concerns for staff, students, and the wider school community related to Covid-19. The disciplinary process began on December 3, 2020, and on October 11, 2021, Neumann was found guilty of six counts of misconduct by the WCED. Though found guilty, he was offered a demotion to department head at one of three schools.
He didn’t take up the department’s offer and decided to challenge his dismissal and seek arbitration through the ELRC in May two years ago.
In a statement Mr Neumann said it is clear that the department intends to crush him financially and frustrate him into submission before the merits of this matter are considered before the competent courts.
“This can best be described as the iconic biblical story of the David vs Goliath battle. A smaller, weaker, or less powerful individual or group (David), namely me, faces a much larger, stronger, or more powerful opponent (Goliath) WCED with all the taxpayer’s financial resources.
“Through the strength of community, collectivism and solidarity and against all odds, we’re still standing despite the crush-delay tactics from the department,” said Mr Neumann.
He continued and expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all support groups, organisations, individuals, and the Heathfield High School Community for their continued support during the difficult period.
“Moreover, thank you for the wonderful memories and joy you brought to my life during this very difficult time. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure, adapt, and thrive in the most challenging circumstances.”
Bronagh Hammond, Director for communication at the WCED responded to Mr Neumann’s allegations that the WCED is denying him his day in court by using delaying tactics and said it’s completely false.
She further stated Mr Neumann’s legal team has failed to bring his cases before the courts in a proper manner in accordance with the rules of court.
“Mr Neumann has a legal representative and cannot claim that he is being litigated into submission when it is he who is the one launching numerous duplicate applications in various courts in the apparent hope that one will eventually succeed,” she said.
According to the department Mr Neumann has twice been found guilty on five charges. In the last verdict, in June 2023, the independent Education Labour Relations Council arbitrator stated in his judgement that “there was not an iota of evidence presented by the applicant to support that he was unfairly targeted” and that further, “the sanction of dismissal was appropriate”.
Ms Hammond added that the arbitrator found that the dismissal was both procedurally and substantively fair, and that Mr Neumann was not entitled to any relief.
“Mr Neumann has now brought review applications in court – which we are again entitled to defend in a lawful and compliant manner.
“Mr Neumann was offered a very generous lifeline at the time of dismissal, provided by the then Provincial Minister Debbie Schafer, of an offer of a Head of Department (HOD) post as an alternative to dismissal. He declined this offer.”
Colleen Titus from the Special Action Committee (SAC) which has been lobbying behind the ex-principal said they are still supporting him and added that the department is enforcing delaying tactics.
“We have another appearance at court next week but we are still fighting for him and are 100 percent behind him, now more than ever.”
The appearance Ms Titus is referring to is an interdict application against the WCED from filling the principal’s post at the school that will take place at the High Court on Tuesday May 28