Futura High School will soon decide whether it will continue to employ former Durban mayor Mike Lipschitz’s murderer.
|||Durban - Futura High School is engaging all its stakeholders to decide whether it will continue to employ former Durban mayor Mike Lipschitz’s murderer.
Principal Roger Owen said on Monday the school was shocked and confused, and staff, pupils and parents were being consulted on the matter.
Gareth Thomas, who was convicted in 2002 of killing Lipschitz, was released on parole in 2010. After changing his first name to Daniel he was employed as a life orientation teacher at Futura. His chequered past was only revealed to the school a few days ago.
Owen said Thomas had not been asked, during his interview, whether he had a criminal record. “He did not reveal it to us. The terms of his parole do not require him to reveal the information unless it is asked for.”
He also said Thomas was not operating under two names as he had legally changed his first name.
Meanwhile, labour lawyers believe Thomas should have disclosed his criminal record.
Michael Maeso from Shepstone and Wylie said that had the question been asked and Thomas did not answer truthfully then there were grounds for dismissal. But because the question was not asked, it was a difficult one to call, he said.
“However it could be a case of material non-disclosure, and I’ve argued this successfully… if the information withheld would be of interest to the employer then (a prospective employee) should disclose it.”
Thomas’s attorney Keith Mothilall said Thomas, who had a child to support, was worried he would lose his job.
The Mercury