Parliamentary speaker Frene Ginwala responded to criticism of her handling of the arms deal investigation at a hastily arranged news conference on Monday night.

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and public accounts committee head Gavin Woods as well as the media were targeted.

The media conference came on the eve of Tuesday's meeting between Ginwala and party whips on what to do about Holomisa's allegations that she had abused her office in her handling of the arms deal investigation by parliament.

Ginwala, who stands accused of having betrayed parliament in its intended probe, complained instead of not having been given credit for what she had indeed done to defend parliament in recent times.

'Why did none of you notice?'

She said she agreed with Leon's lawyerly approach in saying that Holomisa would have to back up his statements against her. "Which is what I have asked for," she said.

But, she added, Leon himself would have to explain what he meant when he had said Ginwala had "gone over to the other side" in relations between parliament and the executive.

She then lashed out at both Woods and the media, saying they had failed to give her credit for standing up to the executive.

She gave the examples of having written to Deputy President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as leader of government business, reiterating parliament's right to investigate issues brought to it by the auditor-general.

Ginwala gave journalists a further example. When the ministry of defence had supplied secret documents on the arms deal to the public accounts committee and then demanded them back, she stepped in to tell them they could only have them when parliament was ready to give them back, she said.

She could not understand why journalists had not reported her actions. "Why did none of you notice?" Ginwala said.

She confirmed she was considering a lawsuit against Holomisa.  

With acknowledgement to Clive Sawyer and Independent Online.