Dr Mary de Haas Defends Stance in Parliament: Refuses to Reveal Informants Amid Claims of Police Abuse and Interference
Cape Town – KwaZulu-Natal researcher and crime activist Dr Mary de Haas has stood her ground before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, firmly refusing to name her informants due to serious fears of backlash. Appearing on Monday, 17 November 2025, the honorary research fellow from the University of KwaZulu-Natal stressed her duty as a social worker bound by an oath of confidentiality. She pointed out that many of her sources are public figures who have already shared their stories in media and official probes, making her testimony a vital piece in uncovering alleged rot in the police service.
This comes as the committee digs into claims of corruption, political meddling, and interference in the criminal justice system, sparked by explosive allegations from KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. De Haas’s evidence has stirred debate, with some MPs labelling it as hearsay and third-hand info. Yet, she pushed back, arguing that protecting lives outweighs procedural demands, especially in a climate where whistleblowers face real threats.
Protecting Sources: A Matter of Life and Ethics
De Haas made it clear that her refusal stems from deep concerns over safety. As someone who has monitored violence in KwaZulu-Natal for decades, she knows the risks all too well. Her informants include people from various walks of life, some deeply embedded in police and community networks. She explained that revealing names could lead to harm, drawing from past cases where those speaking out against powerful figures met grim fates.
This stance echoes her long history as a human rights defender. Over the years, De Haas has documented countless instances of police brutality and systemic failures, often relying on confidential tips to build her reports. In this hearing, she took the oath to testify truthfully but drew a line at endangering others. MPs raised eyebrows, questioning the weight of her claims without direct sources, but De Haas held firm, saying her work as a social worker demands secrecy to help the vulnerable.
Her background adds weight to her words. With a career spanning social work, anthropology, and crime research, she has authored numerous papers on policing in post-apartheid South Africa. Her role at the University of KwaZulu-Natal involves studying violence patterns, making her a go-to voice on issues like gang warfare and political assassinations in the province.
Outrage Over Wasted Resources on Political Crimes
A key part of De Haas’s testimony targeted the massive spending on crimes tied to politicians. She called it “absurd” that huge sums go into probing these cases while ordinary people struggle to get basic justice. In KwaZulu-Natal, where poverty and violence hit hard, she argued that the focus on high-profile killings leaves everyday murders unsolved.
De Haas painted a stark picture: poor families lose loved ones daily to crime, yet police resources pour into protecting politicians. “I see people dying and the police doing nothing and yet were spending this money on this team, outrageous. Poor people don’t get justice. You don’t hear about them dying. They die all the time. Why are (they) doing something special for politicians,” she said. This highlights a deeper inequality in the system, where elite interests seem to trump community needs.
Accusations Against Former Minister Bheki Cele and Police Interference
De Haas did not hold back on former Police Minister Bheki Cele, claiming he meddled in police operations during his time in office from 2018. She said interference was “well known” under his watch, with cases manipulated to suit political agendas. This ties into broader allegations of corruption within the South African Police Service, where top brass allegedly shield allies.
She shared stories from her research, including complaints of suspects being tortured by task team members. De Haas described how evidence was often faked, leading to wrongful arrests and charges, even for serious crimes like murder. This abuse, she said, bred fear and distrust in communities, making it harder for real justice to prevail.
Cele’s involvement came up repeatedly, with De Haas noting that “everybody knew” about his hands-on role in operational matters. This adds fuel to ongoing debates about political overreach in law enforcement, especially in volatile areas like KwaZulu-Natal, where taxi wars and factional fights have claimed many lives.
Push for Disbanding the Political Killings Task Team
At the heart of the hearing was De Haas’s role in calling for the shutdown of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). Accused by Mkhwanazi of pushing for its closure, she admitted writing to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu – now on special leave – to demand its end. After six years and hefty costs, she argued, the team showed few results.
De Haas explained her reasons in detail: the PKTT lacked clear rules on what counted as a “political killing,” often grabbing cases with no real link to politics. She heard repeated tales of physical and emotional abuse by its members, including beatings and forced confessions. “My problem with the task team is, I have never known how they define political killings. I have known them to take dockets that have nothing to do with politics,” she added.
Her letter to Mchunu became a key factor in his decision to disband the unit. De Haas lobbied for this because of the abuse reports and the team’s unaccountability. It was feared rather than trusted, she said, with suspects enduring harsh treatment without oversight. This move sparked controversy, as some saw the PKTT as essential for tackling assassinations tied to ANC infighting and other rivalries in the province.
Mkhwanazi, in earlier testimony, blamed De Haas and others for influencing the disbandment, claiming it weakened efforts against organised crime. But De Haas countered that the resources could better serve grassroots policing, helping solve murders that affect everyday folk.
Broader Implications for Justice in South Africa
De Haas’s appearance marks week six of the Ad Hoc Committee’s work, which has heard from police officials, lawyers, and activists. The probe, chaired amid calls for transparency, aims to root out meddling that undermines fair trials and investigations.
Her call for a national task team reporting directly to Parliament – with reps from justice and civil society – offers a way forward. This could ensure better checks on police power, focusing on all victims, not just the powerful.
As KwaZulu-Natal grapples with ongoing violence, De Haas’s words spotlight the need for reform. Communities deserve equal protection, she urged, warning that skewed priorities erode public trust. With more witnesses lined up, including senior cops, the committee’s findings could reshape policing nationwide, pushing for accountability and fairness in a system long plagued by scandals.
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