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Gender and power : financial independence and women's relational empowerment in the Global South
Hosanoo, Zuberia Aminah; Rughoobur-seetah, Soujata; Soupramanien, Loga Devi Balla; Doargajudhur, Melina; Lichy, Jessica; Wheatley, Daniel (Wiley, 2026)
This study adopts a positive and contextually grounded representation of married women in Global South (GS) countries through the theory of gender and power (TGP) and Kabeer's empowerment framework, to examine factors driving financial independence (FI) and empowerment among women in Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Drawing on 55 in-depth interviews with married women (28 in Mauritius and 27 in Zimbabwe), findings indicate that gendered power relations and institutional forces are pivotal in shaping empowerment for married women. Three interconnected themes emerged: “societal and institutional factors,” “context-embedded financial independence and autonomy,” and “women's relational empowerment.” Theoretically, we intersect Kabeer's empowerment framework with the TGP to illustrate how FI operates at the nexus of resources, agency, gendered power relations, and structural constraints, both aligning with and challenging universalized assumptions in gender, development, and empowerment research. Empirically, the paper advances scholarship by providing nuanced insights into empowerment processes within under-researched GS contexts.
Gaps in the rainbow nation : a critique of South Africa's tolerance of conversion therapy
Baird, Sophy B. (Routledge, 2026)
South Africa has not yet enacted a specific legislative ban on conversion practices. This is despite widespread international consensus that so-called conversion practices—aimed at changing an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression—are harmful, unethical, and violate fundamental human rights. This omission is particularly striking given South Africa’s globally lauded Constitution, which enshrines the rights to equality, dignity, and bodily and psychological integrity, and is often celebrated for its progressive protection of LGBTQ+ persons. This article critically examines the dissonance between South Africa’s constitutional values and its legal silence on conversion practices, especially as they relate to vulnerable groups. Drawing on domestic jurisprudence, international human rights law, and comparative legislative developments from jurisdictions such as Australia and Germany, the article argues that the continued permissibility of conversion practices in South Africa constitutes a systemic failure to fulfil both constitutional obligations and international commitments. It also examines the professional stances adopted by organizations such as the Psychological Society of South Africa and critiques the limitations of relying solely on ethical guidelines in the absence of statutory or criminal sanctions. The article concludes with a call for urgent legal reform, proposing a rights-based legislative framework that expressly prohibits conversion practices and aligns South Africa’s domestic law with its constitutional ethos and global human rights standards.
Genome analyses reveal two novel species of Seiridium from Acacia mearnsii
Aylward, Janneke; Visagie, Cobus M.; Roets, Francois; Wingfield, Brenda D.; Wingfield, Michael J. (Springer, 2026-02)
Seiridium is a genus of Sordariomycetes (Amphisphaeriales, Sporocadaceae), primarily known for species that cause cypress canker on Cupressaceae trees. However, most species in this genus have been reported from angiosperms, including many species in the native range of their hosts. Several unidentified Seiridium strains, collected > 20 years ago from Acacia mearnsii trees in eastern South Africa and southeastern Australia, were recently recovered from a collection of preserved cultures. We considered the phylogenetic position of these Seiridium strains and assessed their pathogenicity on A. mearnsii. Maximum likelihood analysis of three concatenated gene regions revealed four well-supported clades. Two closely related clades corresponded to Australian and South African origins, whereas two other clades representing South African isolates formed a monophyletic group with S. kartense, a species known from Eucalyptus cladocalyx on Kangaroo Island in Australia. Genome-wide average pairwise nucleotide identity and genetic differentiation analysis supported three species, including isolates considered conspecific with S. kartense and two that we consider to represent new species. These are described and named here as Seiridium mearnsii sp. nov. and Seiridium rouxiae sp. nov. Inoculations with South African isolates failed to produce evidence of pathogenicity. Seiridium species from A. mearnsii have likely been introduced into South Africa from Australia, along with the planting material used to establish A. mearnsii forestry.
Exploring the motives and constraints shaping dog owners pet tourism intentions for overnight stays
Van der Merwe, Michelle Caroline; Kotze, Theuns G.; Mostert, P.G. (Pierre) (Sage, 2026)
The study examines motives and constraints shaping South African dog owners’ intentions to include their canine companions in overnight leisure travel. Drawing on attachment theory and leisure constraint theory, the conceptual framework distinguishes three predictor categories: bond-related motives (pet attachment, perceived travel benefits for dogs, reciprocity), owner-related motives (socialisation, prestige, novelty), and pet-related constraints (pet-specific, interpersonal, structural barriers). Data were collected from 437 South African dog owners through self-administered online questionnaires. The measurement model was validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and hypothesised relationships were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). The measurement and structural models demonstrated acceptable fit. Results indicate that dog owners’ pet tourism intentions are positively predicted by pet attachment and novelty and negatively predicted by pet-specific and structural constraints. Novelty emerged as the strongest predictor, indicating that seeking novel dog-inclusive overnight travel experiences outweighs other examined motives and constraints for South African dog owners. Notably, perceived travel benefits for dogs, reciprocity, socialisation, prestige, and interpersonal constraints did not exert significant effects in the South African context. The findings highlight the importance of owner-related motives, particularly novelty-seeking, and emotional bonds (pet attachment) in motivating overnight pet-inclusive travel and emphasise that practical and pet-related barriers (pet-specific and structural constraints) can dampen intentions. For tourism and hospitality providers, addressing motivational and constraint-based factors—particularly through improved pet-friendly amenities and reduced structural obstacles—is crucial for attracting this emerging market. By integrating motivational and constraint perspectives, the research provides a framework for understanding and advancing dog-friendly tourism strategies in South Africa and similar markets.
DN-PMF as a sensitivity test for conventional PMF (C-PMF) source apportionment in three cities in South Africa, 2017–2018
Howlett-Downing, Chantelle Margaret; Boman, Johan; Molnar, Peter; Wichmann, Janine (Taylor and Francis, 2026)
Source apportionment through factorization is a common method for identifying sources of air pollution. Both PCA and DN-PMF have assumptions, strengths, and limitations. Assigning sources to factors is inherently subjective and can introduce bias. PCA for the number of sources, C-PMF and DN-PMF is performed on data from three cities which were sampled at the same time, 16 April 2017 to 18 April 2018. The DN-PMF was able to give seasonal information to support the source apportionment. Results of the PCA included 6 factors for Thohoyandou and Pretoria and 7 factors for Cape Town. At the two large city sites, the C-PMF presented a dominant coal emissions source (29% and 35.6%) yearly and a strong biomass source during winter (24% and 17%). The dominant yearly source shifted to vehicular emissions with the DN-PMF model in Pretoria and Cape Town (41% and 12%) and coal burning at Thohoyandou (33%). By considering the mixing layer and meteorological conditions the factors shifted while keeping the dominant Cl-Pb and Cu-Zn tracer combinations. HIGHLIGHTS DN-PMF is a valid sensitivity test for C-PMF by reducing subjective bias during the assigning of sources to factors.