He served as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, between 1 June 2013, when the term of his predecessor Loyiso Nongxa ended, and 1 January 2021.

[6] In February 2020, it was announced that Habib would succeed Valerie Amos as director of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS) as of 1 January 2021.

[9] In October 2006, while on a trip with colleagues from the Human Sciences Research Council,[10] Habib was deported when he flew into John F. Kennedy Airport in the US.

[15] In March 2021, Habib stepped aside from his position as Director of SOAS, as an investigation was launched into his use of a racial slur during an online meeting with a group of students.

[17] An investigation by SOAS found that his use of the word did not necessarily constitute racism and noted that Habib had apologised and admitted he should not have uttered the term in full.

[19] Habib was vice chancellor at the University of the Witwatersrand at the time and was subsequently accused of 'turning a blind eye' to Kupe's harassment but denied this.

[20] Habib was also accused by the former head of the University of the Witwatersrand's Gender Equity Office of creating "bullying, misogyny and...toxic culture" .