The Title Tangle: UKZN Distances Itself from “Professor” Mary de Haas

A case of a misplaced title has prompted a major South African university to issue a public clarification, untangling the formal status of a well-known public figure from her popular reputation.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has officially distanced itself from human rights activist and violence monitor Mary de Haas, stating she is neither a professor nor an employee. The clarification came after the institution was flooded with queries following her appearance before a Parliamentary ad hoc committee, where she was repeatedly referred to by the honorary title “professor.”

The Source of the Confusion

The mix-up occurred during a high-stakes inquiry into alleged corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system. De Haas, a long-time monitor of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, was called to give evidence. Her testimony was particularly significant as suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had previously cited her complaints as a reason for disbanding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

During the hearing, MPs from the ANC, MK Party, and ActionSA expressed frustration that she withheld the names of her sources, arguing it hindered their investigation. Throughout the proceedings, however, she was consistently introduced and addressed as “Professor” de Haas, a label that has now been formally corrected.

What UKZN Says Her Role Actually Is

In a statement aimed at setting the record straight, UKZN laid out the facts of her association with the university. Mary de Haas retired from the former University of Natal back in 2002, where she held the position of Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Social Anthropology.

Her current link to UKZN is strictly limited to the title of Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Law. The university was careful to note that this is an unpaid, honorary position that does not involve any teaching responsibilities or employment contract.

While she has collaborated with university research groups, UKZN emphasized that her high-profile work on violent crime and policing is conducted independently and is “entirely separate from the University.”

Setting the Record Straight

The question of her academic credentials was also raised directly in Parliament. EFF Deputy Secretary-General Leigh-Ann Mathys pointed out that de Haas does not hold a doctorate, though she has been awarded an honorary one from Rhodes University.

When asked about her qualifications, de Haas herself confirmed the facts. “I do not have a doctorate and I am not a professor,” she testified. “People call me that. I’m not a professor; I did not get an official professorship because I haven’t finished the PhD that would have gotten me one.”

The episode highlights how informal titles can solidify in the public domain, even when they are not officially accurate. For UKZN, the clarification was a necessary step to maintain academic precision. For Mary de Haas, it underscores that her influence and decades of work as a violence monitor stand on their own, regardless of the title people use.

{Source: Citizen}

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