ANC: No record of sex-pest

2009-01-07 22:47

Johannesburg - The African National Congress on Wednesday said there was no record of social grants officer Terry Oliphant, who has been charged with statutory rape, ever being a member of the party.

Spokesperson Garth Strachan said the ANC can find no record that Oliphant was ever a member of the ANC.

Oliphant was recently exposed on SABC 3's Special Assignment programme as an alleged sex-pest.

Oliphant was more recently a member of the Congress of the People party.

The party's spokesperson Palesa Morudu said Oliphant was an ordinary member of Cope and that the alleged offences were committed three years ago when he was still a member of the ANC.

Oliphant was suspended from his job on Wednesday and appeared in the Beaufort West Magistrate's Court on a charge of statutory rape, officials said.

Has not pleaded

"He has been charged with statutory rape but he hasn't pleaded yet. That will happen at the start of his trial," said police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie.

Oliphant's court appearance came less than a day after the current affairs show broadcast an episode on Tuesday evening of his alleged sexual assault of young girls in Beaufort West.

The programme showed how Oliphant made videos of himself having sex with under-aged girls, including a 15-year-old.

Morudu said Oliphant had been suspended from Cope.

"Cope views [his] alleged conduct as depicted in the report as abhorrent... and a crude abuse of power," Morudu said in a statement.

"Cope will immediately suspend [his] membership to the party and also institute a disciplinary process."

Case postponed

Strachan said the ANC condemns such behaviour and urges that the full might of the law be brought in pursuit of these allegations.

Special Assignment reported that he remained in his job at the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) despite the charge against him.

But Social Services Minister Zola Skweyiya issued a statement on Wednesday morning, saying he had been suspended and that disciplinary action would be instituted against him.

Skweyiya described his alleged behaviour as "outrageous, despicable and totally unacceptable".

Oliphant's case was postponed until March 2.

- SAPA