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'The devil made me do it' Electus per Deus and quasi-occult crime in South Africa
Kapp, Tristán (Wiley, 2026-01)
This study interrogates the phenomenon of ‘occult crime’ in South Africa, focusing on the perspectives of crime such as Electus per Deus, the murder of Kirsty Theologo, Hansie Cronjé, and the context behind the assumed connection between criminal culpability, mens daemonica, and the occult. These beliefs frequently espouse individuals ascribing criminal actions to ‘demonic’ authority or spiritual possession, thus reinterpreting typical criminal culpability as inherently occult-related. Therefore, by examining the religious, psychological, and socio-economic factors that contribute to the development and continuation of such beliefs, espousing that ‘the Devil made me do it’ in the interpretation of motives in crime and criminality. Noteworthy examples such as the Krugersdorp murders, the Samurai sword murderer, the Klawer murderer, the murder of Rina Radloff, and others frequently suggest an occult motive for crime, according to mainstream news media. The paper therefore seeks to examine the influence of Afrikaner Christian religious narratives on the way individuals and communities understand responsibility, morality, and justice (vis-à-vis crime and criminality). Identifying select South African case studies and theoretical frameworks involving religion and news media to analyse why such popular inferences are made, based on Ward & Voas' ‘conspirituality’ and John Calvin's doctrine of election. This study also aims to establish an understanding of occult crime as a conspiracy theory in South Africa by examining the relationship between religious belief systems and criminal behaviour. Therefore, it provides accurate information on occultism and Satanism for future academic discussions and practical considerations in jurisprudence, criminology, and alternative religious discourse in South Africa.
The defence and limits of consensual democracy
Metz, Thaddeus (Routledge, 2026)
In this article, I draw on the neglected tradition of African political and legal philosophy to address the sort of representative democracy suitable for twenty-first-century urban societies. In particular, I present and evaluate for a global audience consensualism about democracy, the view that some kind of unanimous agreement amongst elected legislators should normally be a necessary condition for a statute to count as valid law. After expounding this view, which is more or less the default in the African philosophical tradition, I present a new argument for it by drawing on a plausible communal ethic, contend that this argument is a better explanation of why consensualism might be justified than extant moral rationales, draw on the ethic to explain why consensualism might not be unconditionally justified and might be unjust in certain circumstances, and finally defend consensualism from major objections that have recently been made and remain as yet unaswered.
The cytotoxic effects of a single and combined exposure to the mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, on a rat Leydig cell line (LC-540)
Ibrahim, Mohammed I.A.; Lensink, Antoinette, V.; Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus) (Elsevier, 2026-03)
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) are among the most prevalent mycotoxins synthesized by Fusarium species, with 60 % and 80 % prevalence in grains containing mycotoxins, respectively. These mycotoxins often co-contaminate feedstuffs and induce male reproductive toxicity. This study investigated in vitro cytotoxicity, the structure of selected cytoskeletal proteins, mitochondrial morphology, lysosomal activity, and ultrastructural changes associated with individual and combined DON and ZEA exposure in rat Leydig cells (LC-540). Deoxynivalenol (IC50: 2.66, 0.50, and 0.44 μM) induced higher cytotoxicity than ZEA (IC50: 117.0, 69.1, and 34.4 μM) after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Combined DON + ZEA exposure revealed concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects that were synergistic at low concentrations (0.125 + 10 μM), but additive or antagonistic at higher concentrations (2 + 30 and 5 + 50 μM). Microscopic analysis revealed both mycotoxins disrupted F-actin and β-tubulin, impaired mitochondrial morphology, and increased lysosomal acidification. Ultrastructurally, marked cellular alterations included mitochondrial damage, autophagosome formation, and apoptosis. The observed cytotoxicity, disruption of cytoskeletal proteins, and mitochondrial damage in the Leydig cells may play a role in clarifying the male reproductive toxicity induced by DON and ZEA or their co-exposure. HIGHLIGHTS • DON and ZEA induced time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in rat Leydig cells (LC-540). • Combined DON and ZEA exposure showed synergistic effects at low concentrations in LC-540 cells. • DON and ZEA disrupted F-actin and β-tubulin cytoskeletal proteins in LC-540 cells. • DON and ZEA exposure caused mitochondrial damage and increased lysosomal acidification in LC-540 cells. • Combined mycotoxin exposure induced autophagy and apoptosis in LC-540 cells.
The emotional drive towards entrepreneurship
Pettersen, Inger Beate; Van der Lingen, Elma; Åmo, Bjørn Willy (Sage, 2026)
Emotions are inherently embedded in the entrepreneurial process and are highly influential in driving entrepreneurship. The role of emotions in entrepreneurship education (EE) has also been documented, but knowledge is still scarce. This empirical study explores the role of emotion in EE in shaping students’ entrepreneurial competencies and identities. Through an exploration of Kolb’s learning styles (KLS), we empirically scrutinize the correlation between these styles—Doing, Observing, Reasoning, and Emotions—and students' confidence, control, and competence, as gauged by Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (ESE) and Entrepreneurial Identity Aspiration (EIA). The study addresses whether a relationship exists between KLS and ESE/EIA, and if specific learning styles, notably Emotions, influence students’ thinking and entrepreneurial behavior. While Doing, Reasoning, and Observing exhibit moderate or no linkages with ESE and EIA, Emotions emerge as a potent influencer, demonstrating a robust positive connection with both constructs. Emotions, as a preferred learning style, significantly relates to students' control, confidence (ESE), and aspirations to become entrepreneurs (EIA). This study sheds light on an underexplored intersection between students’ learning styles and entrepreneurial self-efficacy/identity, emphasizing the role emotions play in fostering entrepreneurial learning. The study also underscores the need for targeted pedagogical approaches that harness the influence of emotions in entrepreneurship education.
The effect of burial in containers filled with naturally occurring soil and mine tailings on decomposition : a porcine pilot study
Maikov, Artem Vitalievich; Myburgh, Jolandie; Keyes, Craig Adam (Springer, 2026-01)
Due to the complexity of the decomposition process and all the variables affecting it, there are many factors that have not been thoroughly examined. The impact of different soil types on decomposition of buried remains has received relatively little attention. This study sought to investigate the impact of three soil types on decomposition. Fourteen piglet carcasses were used to assess and compare the decomposition patterns and rates that take place in dolomite and quartzite (two soil types common in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa), as well as in tailings from gold mines (another common feature in southern Johannesburg). Each piglet was buried in a container filled with one of these soil types (four for Dolomite, five for quartzite and mine tailings) and was periodically partially exhumed to record Total Body Score progression as thermal energy (measured in Accumulated Degree Days) accumulated. Soil samples were also taken to record the soil’s water content and pH level. The decomposition of the dolomite and mine tailing-interred piglets was found to differ significantly, with the latter progressing more rapidly. Dolomite was also consistently the soil type with the lowest water content and the least pH fluctuation, while quartzite had the highest water content and the most significant changes in pH over the course of the experiment. While this study has experimental limitations, it provides novel results that will help forensic practitioners understand subterranean decomposition in South Africa, and possibly other countries with similar climates and soil types.