The ANC would not be provoked into dealing harshly with Andrew Feinstein, the only ANC MP who did not vote in support of Speaker Frene Ginwala during a motion of confidence on Thursday, ANC officials said yesterday.

Feinstein's abstention during the vote is the latest in a string of incidences in which he has found himself at odds with the party, all relating to the initiation of an inquiry into the R43-billion arms deal by Parliament's standing committee on public accounts, in which he was formerly the ANC leader.

But although patience is wearing thin with Feinstein, ANC Deputy Chief Whip Geoff Doidge said: "We need to take a balanced approach and give him the opportunity to come and explain. We have got to hear his reason."

People close to Chief Whip Tony Yengeni's office said that Feinstein's abstention was "the last straw" and that "the party was unable to tolerate someone with a pattern of bucking the system".

Yengeni's spokesman, Dennis Cruywagen, said that the matter would be referred to ANC headquarters.

However, Doidge said that he "doubted very much" that Feinstein would be fired for not voting for Ginwala.

Feinstein would not comment on his abstention or the impending action against him.

With acknowledgement to Carol Paton and the Sunday Times.