Teacher reinstated after unfair dismissal claims in the Western Cape

THE Western Cape Education Department, which had earlier been ordered to reinstate and back pay more than R360 000 to a Primrose Park Primary School teacher that it fired following claims of unbecoming conduct, has failed in its legal bid to have this order overturned.

- ZELDA VENTER

Lee-Ann Snyders, who had been working at the school since 2013, lost her job following a 2019 disciplinary hearing that found her guilty on 14 charges relating to misconduct. She was accused by a group of Grade 5 learners of name-calling and using derogatory language.

She successfully turned to arbitration to have her dismissal overturned. The arbitrator at the time found that the learners had fabricated allegations to have the teacher dismissed.

Snyders taught the Grade 5 learners at the time, and the charges were based on complaints raised by learners in another Grade 5 class, taught by another teacher. There was a rivalry between the two classes. The now former principal testified that the rivalry was toxic between the children and the teachers of the respective grades.

According to the arbitrator's assessment of the evidence, the toxic rivalry, which was referenced throughout the arbitration hearing, underscores the charges against Snyders.