UKZN drops bombshell: Mary de Haas has no PhD

The University of KwaZulu Natal has moved to clarify the academic status of Dr Mary de Haas after her appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu Natal Provincial Head Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sparked widespread public debate.

In a detailed statement, the university said De Haas does not hold a PhD from UKZN and is not employed as an academic at the institution. Instead, she holds an honorary research fellowship in the School of Law, a non-teaching and non-employment title.

UKZN said De Haas retired from the former University of Natal in 2002, where she worked as a senior lecturer and programme director in social anthropology. The University of Natal merged with the University of Durban Westville in 2004 to form the University of KwaZulu Natal.

The institution said De Haas’ current association is limited to an honorary research fellow title only and does not include professorship status or a completed PhD qualification. UKZN said her independent research, including her work on violent crime and policing, is not conducted on behalf of the university.

The clarification comes after a heated parliamentary session in which De Haas testified about alleged abuses by the Public Order Policing Tactical Team. MPs challenged her claims and questioned her conduct during the hearing. Some MPs referred to her as gogo, prompting the chairperson to instruct members to address her as Doctor. De Haas was also accused by MPs of failing to provide direct evidence and relying on unnamed sources.

Her testimony drew significant attention on social media, particularly on X, where users questioned her academic credentials and long standing association with UKZN. A number of posts accused the institution of distancing itself only now that her evidence was being publicly scrutinised in Parliament.

One user wrote, “Prof Mary de Haas is a great example of white mediocrity that pass as competency. If she was black her qualifications would be under scrutiny but she is white so she gets a pass. It’s nice to be white.” Another user commented on the timing of the university’s statement, writing, “But when her name was paraded by Minister Mchunu and the media covered her work at UKZN, the University did not distance themselves. Why now?”

A third X user wrote, “Breaking news: Mary De Haas does not have a PHD,” in reaction to UKZN’s clarification. Another user wrote last year, “Mary De Haas studied as a social worker, but was taken at the University of KwaZulu Natal to be a lecturer for Anthropology as a Professor. After that she was bestowed with an LLB by Rhodes University, something she never studied for, and she never completed her PHD degree.”

DA MP Ian Cameron added pressure during the parliamentary hearing when he said De Haas could not provide any first hand evidence to support her allegations. He said all the information she presented came from unnamed individuals and unverified stories. He said parliamentary oversight cannot rely on untested claims and must be based on facts and formal evidence.

De Haas, a long standing criminologist and commentator on policing issues in KwaZulu Natal, told Parliament she previously raised concerns with government officials about alleged misconduct within policing structures. She was accused by MP members of attempting to influence the disbandment of the tactical unit during her engagements with officials, including approaching former police minister Senzo Mchunu.

The ad hoc committee continues to hear testimony as part of its investigation into allegations involving policing in the province. The committee is expected to call additional witnesses before finalising its report.

UKZN said it will not comment on evidence presented before the committee but issued the clarification to correct public misunderstandings about De Haas’ academic status and the nature of her association with the university.