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An analysis of the position of Muslim widowed women within a South African context
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Mallick, Imrah
The position of a widowed Muslim woman in South Africa has been a topic of discussion for more than 25 years, particularly concerning maintenance and her right to inherit from the estate of her deceased husband in terms of South African laws governing maintenance and succession. Historically, a widow subject to a marriage concluded in terms of Islamic law only (Islamic marriage) albeit monogamous or polygynous was not recognised for, inter alia, the purposes of South African laws governing maintenance and succession. A widow that was subject to an Islamic marriage could not, for example, claim from the intestate estate of her deceased husband as she was not recognised as a spouse for purposes of the Intestate Succession Act. The status has since changed. Recent case law developments have led to the recognition of certain aspects of Islamic marriages within South African legal provisions, specifically concerning the rights to claim maintenance and inheritance from the estates of deceased spouses. It is important to note that South African and Islamic laws governing maintenance and succession differ significantly. This research paper introduces a comparative analysis of these legal frameworks, focusing on the provisions for widows under both Islamic and South African law. This would include a discussion on the rationale behind the Islamic laws governing the maintenance and succession in this regard. It further analyses the developments in the recognition of Islamic marriages for purposes of maintenance and succession (testate and intestate) within the South African context to give effect to Islamic law. Recent developments in case law will be looked at in this regard. This research paper also extends a comparative analysis to Singapore, where Islamic law is formally recognised under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA). Singapore provides a structured legal framework for Muslim inheritance and maintenance, offering a contrast to South African law’s case-based approach. By analysing South African, Islamic, and Singaporean legal systems, this research paper highlights key differences in the recognition and protection of Muslim widows. The research paper concludes with an overall analysis of the findings and offer recommendations for future legal reform.
SECONDARY GLOTTALISATION IN CENTRAL CHADIC (AFROASIATIC)
(LibraryPress@UF, 2025) H. Ekkehard Wolff
Continued in-depth historical-comparative research into Central Chadic phonology reveals that present-day Central Chadic languages possess a number of phonemes that cannot be reconstructed for Proto-Central Chadic. Among the driving forces for their evolution were processes of ‘prosodification’, whereby articulatory features such as PAL (palatal), LAB (labial), NAS (nasal) and GLOT (glottal) disassociate from their original host segments and become ‘floating’ and thereby free to re-associate with other hosts within the word. In Chadic linguistics, such suprasegmental processes and effects are referred to as ‘prosodies’. As a result, present-day languages possess innovative palatalised, labialised, prenasalised, and glottalised consonants and approximants as much as considerably enriched vowel systems. The paper discusses diachronic scenarios according to which ‘secondary’ glottal(ised) segments emerge in addition to safely reconstructed ‘primary’ *ɓ and *ɗ. In one scenario, allophonic glottal stops end up as a floating feature (GLOT), which re-associates with another segment in the chain of phonemes resulting in glottal ‘colouring’ of the new host. In a parallel scenario, an allophonic glottal stop ends up in abutting position to another segment, with which it fuses and likewise fosters a new synchronic glottal phoneme.
The transformational leadership predictors of organisational citizenship behaviour
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2026) Dafe, Paul Ufoma; Mahembe, Bright; Balogun, Tolulope Victoria
Orientation: Despite increased interest in the human resource aspect in organisations, managers still find it challenging to manage organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) of employees to enhance organisational success, performance and effectiveness. To improve OCB, one needs to examine how leadership styles and the organisational climate influence employees’ behaviour, as these factors are pertinent in shaping employees’ motivation and attitudes, which in turn enhance OCB. Research purpose: The study aims to examine the influence of transformational leadership and organisational climate on OCBs of employees. Motivation for the study: Within academic institutions, people are a critical driver of success, shaping how effectively and efficiently the organisation functions. This makes it important to study discretionary behaviours, such as OCB, which have been shown to enhance overall organisational performance. Research approach/design and method: This study used a quantitative approach and surveyed 220 support staff members in a University in the Western Cape Province. Data for the study were gathered from an online survey of Google Forms questionnaires and analysed with a structural equation model to investigate the relationships among the variables of transformational leadership and organisational climate and OCB. Main findings: The study found that both transformational leadership and organisational climate had positive and significant effects on OCB. Practical/managerial implications: The likelihood of employees engaging in OCB increases when organisational leaders embrace transformational leadership and cultivate a supportive, positive workplace climate. Contribution/value-add: This study elevates the existing knowledge by adding knowledge on organisational climate, organisational citizenship behaviour and transformational leadership.
IrO2 supported on TiC and Ti2AlC for improved oxygen evolution reaction performances for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2026) Karels, Simoné; Soudens, Franschke Anrid; Singh, Deep Lata; Linkov, Vladimir M; Pasupathi, Sivakumar
Generating a cost-effective precious-metal catalyst is essential for achieving low-cost, large-scale green hydrogen production.Since the majority of the overpotential in the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer arises during the oxygen evolutionreaction (OER), the remarkable performance of the IrO2 makes it an ideal anodic catalyst. Herein, a simple, straightforwardmethod was used to prepare an IrO2-loaded transition-metal carbide-supported catalyst. The IrO2 nanoparticles were loadedon TiC (IrxTC 1-x) and Ti2AlC (IrxTAC 1-x) at 20 to 80 wt% IrO2 loadings, using the modified Adams fusion method. A diameterof 2 nm was obtained to exhibit improved OER performance in 0.5 M H2SO4 compared with commercial IrO2. The catalystsshowed a uniform distribution of IrO2 nanoparticles on the supports. Overpotentials of 260 and 250 mV were obtainedfor Ir80TC20 and Ir80TAC20 at 10 mA cm−2. The prepared Ir80TC20 and Ir80TAC20 showed good OER activity, delivering−2 −210 mA cm at 1.47 and 1.46 V versus RHE, respectively. The catalysts exhibited OER stability at 10 mA cm for 73 and58 h, respectively, for Ir80TC20 and Ir80TAC20. The precursor solution proved significant recyclability, and the study demonstrateda new approach to rapidly design low-cost, high-performance anodic catalysts for overall OER performance.
What can we learn about academic identity from allied careprofessions? messages for the social work academy
(Routledge, 2026) Santos-Petiot, Joanna; Spolander, Gary; Hafford-Letchfield, Trish
Academic identity influences disciplinary contributions and profes-sional development of individuals within those disciplines. Little isknown about academic identity within the social work discipline.This paper presents the results of a modified systematic interna-tional literature review to investigate academic identity in socialwork, nursing and allied care professions. Papers (138) were initiallyretrieved for screening, 40 met the final inclusion criteria for review.Limited social work academic identity literature was identified, withonly four papers specifically focused on social work. Results high-lighted numerous barriers to establishing a distinct academic iden-tity, with a multitude of challenges in transition from practice toacademia and its dual identities of practitioner and scholar. Theprocess of academic socialization requires adequate institutionalpreparation, collegial support, sense of community and relational-ity, and not least time. We discuss four key themes from thisliterature (1) temporality and dynamic nature of developing aca-demic identity in the academy, (2) role of professional work cultureand communities of practice, (3) legitimacy, visibility and dichoto-mies of professional, disciplinary and academic knowledge andskills and (4) strategic imperatives for supporting transitions forthe helping professions. The implications for social work academicidentity development, social work education and social workknowledge are discussed.