Classes were disrupted at Heathfield High School, from Monday 16 to Friday 20 May, as emotions ran high and learners marched in protest against the principal’s dismissal.
Catherine Wyngaard, a parent of one of the leaners, said they were in full support of the principal.
“I have a child at school in Grade 9, we are here to support Mr Neumann. I think this is a trying time for him. We need to stand up for our principals and our teachers, it is our democratic right to do that. Mr Neumann put his life and his family life aside to see to our children.
“When Covid started, nobody had a clue what Covid was about and Mr Neumann took the initiative to keep our children safe. That is why I think this WCED is so wrong and corrupt because this is a principal that stood up for my child’s life and I commend him for that.”
She added that it was “grossly unfair” to dismiss Neumann without consulting parents of Heathfield high.
“We are the parents and we make decisions not the WCED because they don’t come out here to see what is really going on. We say no to the removal of Mr Neumann from this school and we, as parents, are not going to allow this to happen.”
Learners carried posters that read “hands off our principal” and “unite” as they marched out of the school gates on Friday 20 May.
Nashilene Leepi, a community member who made a banner in support of the principal, said she felt that something needed to be done.
“I saw the outcry and I think he (Neumann) had good intentions and he acted not only as a principal but as a parent because of the love that he has for the kids. So, I don’t think that he did it with bad intentions and he did not close the school. I support Mr Neumann because I feel that he is a good principal.”
Ivan Hendricks, a parent of a learner, said Neumann made major improvements to the school including fixing the fence and bathrooms.
“I know Heathfield high for a long time and I know where they have come from, the condition of the school, and I can say one thing Mr Neumann is a principal that is hands on. He is a principal that understands the factors of responsibility, accountability as well as authority.
“The WCED is of the view that they want to give the responsibility to the principals of colour but they are not in a position to allow them to exercise their authority. Mr Neuman has the interest of the students as well as the educators, especially in the time of the pandemic, at heart.”
Hendricks says the community feared what would happen if they sent their children to school during the Covid pandemic.
“During the pandemic, there was the fear that should you come back into a contaminated school that there is the accountability on the principal and the school itself. The principal was very cautious about taking the stand with the governing body, taking the stand with the RCL and with the parents to be very cautious, especially for social distancing as well as making sure that learning still continued.”
Anne-Marie Africa, a grandmother to one of the learners, said she supports the principal.
“I have a granddaughter in Grade 8 and I am here to stand in agreement with the students of Heathfield high. I’ve come to learn of this dismissal of Mr Neumann but I am standing with them because Mr Neumann is going nowhere. Hands off our principal.
“We will fight and we will stand together with our students. Wesley Neumann is going nowhere; this is a place where he will be back.”
Learner Cassidy DeVries, chair of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL), called for learners to be calm and return to class.
“Yesterday (Thursday 19 May) the leadership of the RCL had our final meeting with Mr Neumann. Mr Neumann acknowledged that the students and community were angry but urged the RCL to call for calm and to return to class. Mr Neumann further urged the students of Heathfield high and the class of 2022 to make him proud by achieving 100% in our final examinations.
“Mr Neumann expressed that he was sad to leave and vowed that he would fight to return to Heathfield high. Out of respect and love for our beloved principal we as the RCL ask the students and community to heed Mr Neumann’s call for calm and to return to class.”
