Ex-SAFA boss in hot water

Cape Town - Former SAFA president Molefi Oliphant and a neighbour have laid assault charges against each other after they were involved in a tussle, reports Beeld.

According to the newspaper, the two started fighting over kids playing "toktokkie" in the Suikerbos Country Estate in Vereeniging over the weekend.

Warrant officer Bubbles Ngwenya of Vereeniging police confirmed that Oliphant and a neighbour, Christo Lotter, opened assault charges against each other after an incident on Saturday night.

"Both cases are still being investigated. No-one has been arrested yet," said Ngwenya.

Oliphant said in a telephonic interview that the incident was a "dispute between neighbours" and not in "human interest or newsworthy". He declined to give further comment.

According to Lotter the boys played "toktokkie" in the country estate on Saturday evening when Oliphant apparently pulled, hit and smacked one of the boys.

"I ordered him to leave the boy alone, but he refused. The boy cried frantically and was severely traumatised. I managed to get the boy out of Oliphant's grasp, before Oliphant attempted to hit me with his belt. I took the belt off him."

Lotter said Oliphant then grabbed a long bamboo pipe and attacked him with it. "He hit me on the head and on my hand until I bled."

Lotter and Oliphant have been neighbours for six years.