WCED granted leave to appeal as Wesley Neumann vows to fight for reinstatement

Wesley Neumann, former principal of Heathfield High. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been granted leave to appeal the Labour Appeal Court’s decision ordering the reinstatement of former Heathfield principal, Wesley Neumann, following his dismissal, with his legal team vowing to oppose it. The ruling of the Labour Court to have Neumann reinstated as principal is on hold pending the outcome of the appeal.

In response to the decision latest court decision, Education MEC David Maynier said the department remained steadfast in pursuing the best interests of learners. “We have been granted leave to appeal the decision of the Labour Court with regards to Wesley Neumann’s dismissal,” he said. “In our application, we argued that the court committed multiple legal and factual errors in reviewing the Education Labour Relations Council’s arbitration award.

“The Court has now granted us leave to appeal the judgment to the Labour Appeal Court. This means that the order to reinstate Mr. Neumann as principal of Heathfield High School is suspended.

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“We will remain focused on the best interests of the learners of Heathfield High School. “The school is flourishing and has produced a matric pass rate of 89.9% – the school’s highest in 15 years. “We remind Mr.

Neumann’s 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.” Neumann’s lawyer, Advocate Vernon Seymour, said they would not give up without a fight: “We noted the ruling that WCED has been granted leave to appeal; it will unfortunately delay the closure of this matter, which many people in the education sector had hoped for. Mr Neumann is naturally disappointed with the ruling and was hoping to return to the classroom next term.

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