Lemohang Tebeli

In the last two decades, South Africa has experienced a series of xe- nophobic attacks directed at black Africans foreigners from different parts of Africa. Lack of a deeper sense of diversity and plurality has led to low levels of social trust, social cohesion and even social peace. Factors such as poverty, population increase, violent conflict, civil wars and environmental stress have led to tremendous migrations in Africa. Immigration has contributed to xenophobic violence in South Africa. This paper examines the contribution that Thomas Aquinas’s theory of natural law can make to the phenomena of xenophobia. Aquinas’s na- tural law through its underlying principles of human value and freedom can be used to challenge issues surrounding social injustice, in particular xenophobic violence in South Africa. For Aquinas, leading a morally justified and self-fulfilling life requires not only following the precepts of the natural law which dictates doing right actions, but also in having a good or virtuous disposition.

In many African communities, identity is profoundly intertwined with communal values and ethics. Individuals strongly associate with families, clans, tribes, or ethnic groups to shape their identity and belonging. Identity is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the community, grounded in equality and mutual understanding. Bernard Matolino’s limited communitarianism offers a unique lens for understanding the balance between these communal values and individual rights. It underscores the importance of balance between them, forming a profound theoretical foundation for exploring LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer, plus) rights in African society. LGBTQ+ individuals in African communities face various challenges from communal values and diverse sexual and gender identities. Recognising this diversity underscores the significance of individualised identities in the collective narrative. This article delves into the ethical complexity intersecting these identities, highlighting instances where LGBTQ+ individuals grapple with conforming to communal values at the cost of their rights and authentic identities. It highlights the tension between societal norms and individual autonomy, intensified by the discourse on cultural relativism and universal human rights in Matolino’s framework. It aims to comprehensively examine whether limited communitarianism accounts for the rights and complexities of LGBTQ+ individuals while seeking a balance between communal and individual identity dimensions. It acknowledges intricate challenges in this intersection and seeks paths toward harmonising communal values, individual rights and LGBTQ+ identities in African society. The primary goal is to contribute to the discourse on identity, ethics and human rights in African communities, aspiring to inform more inclusive and equitable approaches to African identity and rights.