Cape Town - The African National Congress in Parliament has come out in support of its senior member and National Assembly Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala, a week after she was publicly criticised by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

"The ANC has noted with concern the unwarranted attack...The ANC said it wanted to place on record that it has full confidence in Dr Ginwala, who was unanimously elected Speaker in 1999," the party's parliamentary office said in a statement on Monday night.

Ginwala had conducted National Assembly business and all parliamentary matters in a fair and impartial manner that had preserved the integrity of the House, it said.

"So confident are we of the Speaker on this matter that we are prepared to discuss with the chiefs whips of all parties in Parliament how the National Assembly should address the unsubstantiated allegations made by Mr Holomisa."

Ginwala had been exemplary in the manner in which she had ensured that all parties had a voice in the National Assembly, the statement said.

"Her innovations in this regard are noteworthy and directly oppose any accusation of bias."

Holomisa in an open letter to the media and diplomats last Monday, accused Ginwala of bias and dereliction of duty, alleging she had misused her position to favour the ANC in the arms probe.

A day later, in a special statement to the House, Ginwala urged MPs to examine the allegations.

Her request was met by silence from within ANC ranks, resulting in speculation she did not have the support of her party and had acted unilaterally.

On Monday, Ginwala was questioned on the ANC's apparent lack of support for her position, but declined to answer the questions saying she had called the briefing in her capacity as the Speaker.

She directed the questions to the ANC.

Three hours after her press briefing, the ANC issued a statement supporting her.

Ginwala will on Tuesday meet the chief whips of the 13 political parties in Parliament to discuss how to deal with the UDM claims.

The meeting is a follow up to one held last Thursday and is scheduled for 8am in the Speaker's boardroom.

Holomisa said his party would adopt a flexible approach.

"We don't want to be seen to be defying Parliament."

Ginwala described Tuesday's meeting as "unprecedented" and said it was not being called in terms of Parliament's rules.

She had no intention of discussing the substance of the UDM allegations against her at the meeting.

"What I was concerned about, was to get them to address what the House should do about it.

"The intention is simply to say please get on with it, it is an urgent matter."

Ginwala was reported at the weekend as saying she wanted a committee established, consisting of one MP from each political party, to investigate the allegations.

But on Monday she said she was not putting forward any proposal on how to proceed with the matter.

"That's for the whips to decide.

"The allegations have been made, not by an individual MP...What we're dealing with is an allegation by the sixth largest party in Parliament and this is why it needs to be addressed with great speed." 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and News24.