Wesley Neumann should not have been disciplined or dismissed, labour court told

Legal teams are on Wednesday submitting their arguments in a labour court battle between a former high school principal and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

The department dismissed former Heathfield High School principal, Wesley Neumann, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Neumann was charged with misconduct after instructing learners to stay home despite the WCED's directives.

Neumann insists the fear surrounding the COVID-19 virus led to his decision to instruct learners to stay home during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

Neumann's attorney, Vernon Seymour, on Wednesday told the labour court that the Education Labour Relations Council failed to consider this when ruling in favour of Neumann's dismissal.

Seymour also told the court that Neumann had an exemplary record before the pandemic and was lawfully entitled to make a decision to protect his learners.

"The applicant should not have been disciplined, let alone dismissed."

The legal team for the WCED is yet to present their arguments in the matter.

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