WESLEY NEUMANN Heathfield principal reinstated

VINDICATED principal Wesley Neumann has thanked the public for their overwhelming support after the Labour Court judgment replaced his dismissal from Heathfield High School with a final written warning. Political parties are now questioning the expenditure of the five-year case, which is believed to exceed R4 million.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

The news has been widely welcomed by the Special Action Committee-Education (SAC-E), the GOOD Party, COSATU Western Cape, and the ANC.

Cape Argus approached Neumann for comment yesterday, but he could not speak publicly. A representative on behalf of the principal shared a brief message on his behalf: "I would like to express my gratitude to all the people that I did not even meet for their support and prayers."

Neumann was dismissed in 2020 after deciding to keep the school closed due to safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic and faced various charges.

Political parties have hailed the ruling as a victory for justice against what they assert was political persecution by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and former MEC Debbie Schäfer.