GOOD Party welcomes reinstatement of Heathfield principal

The GOOD Party has welcomed a labour court ruling that retrospectively reinstates the former principal of Heathfield high school near Wynberg.

Wesley Neumann was dismissed after being found guilty of six counts of misconduct related to not allowing learners to return to school during the height of the covid pandemic.

Acting judge Coen de Kock on Monday, ordered his reinstatement with back-pay.

The case dates back to 2020, when Neumann, a good party councilor and then-principal, refused to reopen Heathfield high for staff and learners amid peak covid infections.

In 2021, the Western Cape education department found him guilty on six counts, including failing to follow lawful instructions, discouraging staff and learners from attending school, and prejudicing departmental administration.

Acting judge de Kock substituted Neumann’s dismissal with a final written warning, ruling that his dismissal was outside the scope of reasonable outcomes in the disciplinary process.

GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Heron said, “from the outset, good has maintained that the actions taken against him were neither fair nor lawful and were driven by political hostility rather than any legitimate concern.”

The judge also allowed the department 30 days to apply for deductions from Neumann’s back-pay for any income earned from other sources.