The South African Communist Party (SACP) has expelled freelance journalist Dale McKinley from the party for “consistently and publicly” attacking leaders of the African National Congress. McKinley was summonsed to a disciplinary hearing at the weekend where he was allowed to present a defence. The SACP’s central committee then endorsed the decision to expel him. The party explained that it is not questioning McKinley’s constitutional right to freedom of expression. The disciplinary committee found that in many of McKinley’s published articles – some of which appeared in the Mail & Guardian – he acted against the spirit and letter of the SACP’s constitution. This included the duty to bring credit to the SACP and to strengthen the liberation alliance headed by the ANC. “We are not in any way calling into question the right of South African citizens to free speech.” McKinley was not available to comment.