Cape Town — The Congress of the People (COPE) has moved swiftly to defuse a sex scandal involving one of its members and is poised for a major row with the SABC over this week's edition of Special Assignment.

On Tuesday night, Special Assignment reported that COPE member Terry Oliphant was linked to the sexual abuse of young girls in Beaufort West.

Yesterday, less than 12 hours after the report was aired, COPE said Oliphant had been suspended and would face disciplinary procedures.

But COPE also complained that the SABC had associated it with the charges against Oliphant, despite the fact that the alleged abuse had occurred when COPE did not exist and when Oliphant was a member of the African National Congress .

Kiki Rwexana, COPE's gender convener, said the party was "shocked by (Tuesday) night's Special Assignment report on Terry Oliphant, the social grant officer in the Beaufort West municipality ".

"COPE views Oliphant's alleged conduct as abhorrent and a crude abuse of power.

"Women and young girls fall victim to such behaviour, particularly in rural towns experiencing economic distress such as Beaufort West.

"There can never be any excuse for such blatant emotional and sexual abuse of women."

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