South African born Dale McKinley became an official member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 1992. This followed the new blood and spirit that was now being injected into the movement by Chris Hani, (the late prominent and vibrant political activist), who had begun to earnestly encourage debates and free speech within the party. Dale initially joined the movement as a branch member of the Johannesburg Central Branch (JCB). At that time he managed an independent left-wing bookshop called 'Phambili' that operated from 1991-1994.

However, due to lack of finances, the bookshop business was not doing well so he approached the management of the SACP and suggested that the party buy it over, which it did, and now renamed 'Inkululeko books'. It was based in Yeoville, a Johannesburg neighbourhood. Although he relinquished ownership of the bookshop to the SACP, Dale continued running the shop on behalf of the party until 1995. It was realized unfortunately at this time that the financial situation of the bookshop as a business had not improved, hence it was agreed by party management that the bookshop be closed.

Following the closure of the bookshop, Dale was then deployed by the party to its headquarters to run a resource center and library. In late 1995, he became a full-time employee of the party, with the responsibility of managing the resource center and library.

From 1996 Dale became more or less an editor of the newspaper called 'Umsebenzi' meaning 'the worker'. He also became involved with political education, where he conducted programs with the unions, and was also doing work for the finance committee of the party. As far as Dale's role as a hardcore activist within the party was concerned, in 1994 he became the chairperson of the JCB. In 1996, the party decided to reinstate the Greater Johannesburg District Branch of the party which until then had fallen. Dale was the new chairperson of that district from 1996-1998.

In 1998 he was elected to the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the party in Gauteng Province. In early 2000 he resigned from his position as a PEC member and almost at the same time, also resigned as an employee of the party. According to Dale, he could no longer carry on with his duties as initially identified.

At this stage, he went back to the branch level of the party where he was re-elected as chairperson of the JCB, until the end of 2000, when he was expelled from the party as a result of his practical activism as a party activist (combined with his extensive critical writings) in support of a truly independent SACP that would remain true to its own programme in relation to ANC-led initiatives.