SACP Decision on Dale McKinley

16 August 2000

The South African Communist Party (SACP) convened a Disciplinary Committee (DC) and a hearing against Comrade Dale McKinley in respect of the following two charges:

• Publicly and consistently attacking the leadership of the ANC, and also publicly attacked, but less frequently, the leadership of COSATU and the SACP
• Publicly and consistently promoting positions that undermine the SACP

The hearing was held on 12 August 2000. The DC reported to the SACP Central Committee (CC) meeting held on 12 and 13 August. This CC meeting accepted the DC report and endorsed the DC recommendation that Comrade Dale McKinley be expelled from the SACP.

The DC found that Dale McKinley was indeed guilty of both charges. The DC found that in many of McKinley+IBk-s published articles, referred to in the disciplinary charges, McKinley acted against the spirit and letter of the SACP Constitution. The SACP Cons titution requires members to observe the following principles:

• Every member has a duty, in his or her personal conduct, to act in a manner which will bring credit to the SACP. (section 5.4 of the SACP Constitution)
• The SACP is committed to strengthen the liberation alliance of all classes and strata whose interests are served by the immediate aims of the national democratic revolution. This alliance is expressed through the liberation front headed by the ANC. (sect ion 4.4)
• SACP membership is open to all South Africans who accept the programme and policy of the SACP. (section 5.1)

In reaching these findings, the DC and the CC wish to underline that it is making a decision about organisational discipline, about the rights and duties of an SACP member. We are not in any way calling into question the right of South African citizens to free speech.

Underlying the CC decision on the expulsion of McKinley are the following principles:

• McKinley is no longer a new member still trying to develop an understanding of SACP policy. He has been an SACP member for 7 years, and he has been exposed to SACP policies and principles as an official of the SACP at provincial, district and branch leve ls.
• This was not the first disciplinary hearing brought against him. Before, he has been served with at least one warning as a result of issuing unauthorised statements and articles.

CONTACT
Jeremy Cronin - SACP Deputy General Secretary
Telephone:(021) 403 2970 or (021) 403 9111
Email:sacp1@wn.apc.org