SACP statement on the letter released to the media by Mr. Phillip Dexter

We have been approached by the media on the resignation of Mr Phillip Dexter from the SACP. This resignation is nothing else but Mr Dexter's fear to face the charges that the SACP had and was going to bring against him. Given the seriousness of the allegations, evidence and information in our possession on, amongst others, Mr Dexter, the SACP feels that it is duty bound to still table all this for consideration by its disciplinary committee.

It is an interesting coincidence that Mr Dexter resigns at a time when he is being publicly exposed, together with Mr Madisha, of being part of a plot to discredit the General Secretary of the SACP, including payments Dexter has made to Modise, payments which we have more information about.

We can only conclude that this resignation is an attempt to avoid facing these new revelations and just like a jilted boyfriend, throwing mud at the SACP and its leadership.

Dexter's latest action vindicates the SACP's stance that he has been part of the lies that were manufactured as an attempt to damage the standing and integrity of both the SACP and our General Secretary.

These were also part of a strategy by elements within our movement to try and influence the outcomes of the ANC's 52^nd National Conference.

These revelations, including his payments to Charles Modise, have helped to expose, for all our revolutionary formations and country to see, the actual faces and nature of the sinister forces, both inside and outside our movement, who are hell bent on destabilising our movement.

This also shows the extent to which these forces are prepared to go in smearing our leaders and organisations, just like Dexter does in his resignation letter.

Dexter has consistently lied in order to hide his own deviousness and uncommunist behaviour. He continues to attack SACP positions and decisions of which he was a part in arriving at, and this is proof of the correctness of the SACP's decision to suspend and charge him. If he has the courage of his convictions he should have faced the disciplinary committee and not run away like a typical lying coward.

We want to set the record straight on some few issues that Mr Dexter raise in his attempt to mislead the public:

1. At no stage did Mr Dexter raise the issue of the alleged R 500 000 donation in the structures of the SACP. Like Madisha, he only raised this for the first time in the media, which goes to prove that his intentions was to tarnish the image of the SACP and its leadership. 
2. Mr Dexter was part and parcel of an SACP leadership collective that for a period of more than 15 years was seized with analysing the South African transition. When the Special National Congress in 2005 mandated the Central Committee to pull this analysis into a proper Central Committee Discussion Document released in 2006, Mr Dexter never raised a single objection to this analysis, neither inside the Party nor the public media as he is doing now. In fact he, in various platforms, participated to even help us further understand the machinations of what the SACP characterises as the 1996 class project, an analysis which he today denounces, like all traitors do, and yet proclaims himself to be loyal to the SACP.
3. We are amazed that today Mr Dexter turns around and wants to cast aspersions on the decision to suspend him when he is on record, in public, saying that he accepted the decision of the Politburo to suspend him. What an afterthought!
4. Mr Dexter has been supplied with all the charges the SACP has placed before the disciplinary committee, whose hearing has over the last month has been postponed twice at his request. The SACP further sent all the documents he requested in preparation for his disciplinary hearing. The next hearing was due on the 13^th September 2008. Throughout Mr Dexter showed extreme willingness to defend himself. To turn around and say the charges were trumped up and cast aspersion on the work of the Disciplinary Committee is mischievous and goes to prove that the latest revelations about his participation in a plot might be the real reason for his resignation.  

As the SACP has consistently pointed out before, every revolution produces both its heroes and, unfortunately, its own traitors as well. This must also be a lesson to the SACP and our revolutionary alliance as a whole that at no stage should we lower our guard as we have not entirely defeated the forces of counter-revolution. It is also a lesson on the different forms through which counter-revolution exists in our country today.

The SACP also wishes to express its appreciation to all its members and cadres, allies and friends for having stood firmly with us and for having seen through these lies. These machinations only serve to strengthen us to intensify the struggle to build a better South Africa, in which all shall have a better life.

The senior structures of the SACP will soon be discussing the aftermath and implications of all these fabricated allegations, in which Dexter has been at the centre, with a view to taking appropriate political, legal and other actions.  

To Mr Dexter and his co-conspirators, we want to say 'You can run but cannot hide'!

Statement issued by the South African Communist Party September 9 2008

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