Underbelly of WCED a concern

CONCERNS have been raised over the underbelly of the province’s education system, following cases of alleged bribery and corruption by senior officials serving under the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

Although the department last month pointed out the number of officials, teachers and principals disciplined for fraud and theft, the public specifically raised questions over officials who still serve under the WCED even though they have been fingered for corruption.

The department has been criticised for protecting a senior official who allegedly bribed a teacher with a position if he co-operated by falsely testifying in a disciplinary hearing against Heathfield High School principal Wesley Neumann.

It said its investigation was continuing. However, the WCED, which previously dismissed the claims against its employee, was now allegedly refusing the three witnesses in the bribery matter the right to testify at Neumann’s hearings.

According to one of three affidavits to the police, the official allegedly hounded, intimidated and bribed the teacher at his home and had boasted about how he was the same official responsible for the dismissal of former South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs.

Heathfield High said police were still probing the complaint. Six months later, there has been no result and the official continues to serve under the WCED.

In Neumann’s case, the WCED argued that the national government’s decision to reopen public schools at the time was rational, constitutional, and based on solid expert medical advice, and that parents had the option to apply for an exemption not to send their children to school if they had concerns regarding their safety, but “Neumann failed to comply with the deadline to inform parents as such and charges were brought against him”.

However, Neumann said the hearings and bribery were bigger than what it seemed and argued that it exposed parts of the underbelly of how the department operated and dismissed employees who challenged it.

“It is disturbing to think officials can do this and (bribe). It is a common practice in the system, which is wrong on all levels. Unfortunately, my teacher was not prepared to do something unlawful. He had his integrity,” he said.

Allan Liebenberg, spokesperson for the Executive Action Committee in defence of Neumann, explained that shortly after the school lodged the complaint, Premier Alan Winde’s office sent Provincial Forensic Services (PFS) officials to summon the teacher for an interview.

Winde’s office confirmed that the WCED requested that the PFS investigate the allegations against the official and said the PFS completed its investigation and provided the outcome to the WCED.

The WCED strongly believes the allegation was a continuous campaign to discredit it and the legal process that is currently under way. “References to Nazism, colonialism and racism have been quite common. The same official that was accused of bribery sadly has also been subjected to intimidation by supporters directly outside his house.”

Supporters of Neumann, who include parents, teachers, students and unions, will gather at the WCED offices tomorrow to hand over a memorandum to the WCED and to demand that charges against Neumann be dropped. | Investigations Unit investigations@ inl.co.za