The University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) has distanced itself from the self proclaimed violence monitor Mary De Haas.
De Haas who appeared before the Parliament’s ad hoc committee that is investigating accusations that a drug trafficking cartel has infiltrated South Africa’s law enforcement and politics judiciary which were made by the KZN Police Commissioner Luitenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
During her appearance, De Haas made several accusations against Mkhwanazi and the embattled and suspended Crime Intelligence boss Luitenant General Dumsani Khumalo.
The former University of Natal which later was merged to UKZN told parliament that Mkhwanazi was wrongly promoted to acting commissioner under the former police minister Bheki Cele.
She further questioned Khumalo’s credibility and qualifications to be the head of crime intelligence and accused National police commissioner Fannie Masemola of lying under oath.
“I don’t believe general Mkhwanazi is credible. Is general Khumalo credible? Nope, definitely not,” said De Haas.
De Haas’s testimony comes after it emerged that she was very critical of the PKTT and also defended her calls for its disbandment by minister Senzo Mchunu.
She accused the task team of abusing its powers and wasting police resources.
“I see people dying and the police doing nothing and yet we’re spending money on this team,” De Haas testified on Tuesday.
“I think it’s outrageous, quite frankly, when ordinary people can’t get justice. I’m speaking here for poor people. You don’t even hear about them being killed. They’re killed all the time in rural areas. They’re trying to defend their land, for example. No one’s paying attention or doing anything special for them. Why are we doing something special for politicians?” she said.
In the twist of events, the UKZN released a statement on Wednesday distancing itself from De Haas by claiming that she was never part of their institution except for the then University of Natal.
“For clarity. Ms de Haas is not an employee of the University and is not a professor at UKZN. She retired from the then University of Natal in 2002, where she served as a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Social Anthropology.
The statement further clarify how University of Natal merged with the University of Durban-Westville in 2004 to form the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
“Her current association with UKZN is limited to the title of Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Law. This is an honorary position and does not involve employment or teaching responsibilities.
“While she has collaborated with members of the Navi Pillay Research Group, she also conducts independent research which is entirely separate from the University and this includes work on violent crime and policing.
The University will not comment on evidence presented before the ad hoc committee,” the statement reads.
Attempts to get comment from De Haas proved fruitless as her cellphone rang unanswered.