Cape Town - National Assembly Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala has asked MPs to examine claims by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa that she was guilty of misconduct, bias and dereliction of duty relating to the arms deal.

In a special statement in the House on Tuesday afternoon, Ginwala drew members' attention to an open letter written by Holomisa and circulated to the media, the diplomatic corps and all UDM structures on Monday.

She regarded the letter as defamatory.

The letter claimed that Ginwala's conduct in relation to Parliament and the arms deal investigation involved dereliction of duty, intentionally obstructing the parliamentary processes, stalling the report by Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) and improper interference in the committee's function.

Holomisa had also alleged improper interference in constitutional structures such as the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Public Protector and the office of the Auditor General - the three agencies probing the arms deal.

There were also allegations that she had rejected Scopa's report, and was biased in the way she conducted the business of the House, MPs were told.

"In as much as these charges are made against the elected presiding officer of the National Assembly, it is necessary that the House examines the allegations about the manner in which the Speaker has carried out the responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution and this House and determine what action it wishes to take.

"The House may wish to consider the matter of privilege."

Charges can have 'serious consequences'

Ginwala said: "At any time, such charges are grave, but in a fragile democracy can have serious consequences. Unless substantiated they attack the integrity of the House and of Parliament.

"It is therefore necessary that the House and you all consider and determine how the matter should be pursued, and the House will need to return to this later."

In his reaction, Holomisa said he hoped that if Parliament did appoint a committee to probe the matter "it will not operate like other committees as a mere rubber stamp for ANC views".

"Such an investigation will hopefully answer outstanding questions about Parliament's role in the arms deal investigation.

"In this process the central question which must be answered, is: 'Under which terms of reference is the arms deal investigation proceeding?'"

Holomisa claimed Ginwala had been involved in directing the debate on the arms deal investigation in Parliament through Scopa and the ethics committee.

"In fact, the Speaker ruled that aspects of the matter [Yengeni's undeclared gifts] may no longer be debated in the proceedings of Parliament, and therefore left the UDM with no other choice but to take the matter to the media," Holomisa said.

Ginwala also wants apology from Woods

Ginwala has also spoken out against Scopa chairperson Gavin Woods (IFP) for publicly criticising her actions on the arms deal and wants an apology from him.

Last week she objected to a media report quoting him as saying that through her interventions, she had by design been instrumental in sidelining Scopa and had impeded its work.

In a letter to Woods, Ginwala said it was unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to attack a presiding officer in such a way.

Woods has been supported by the Democratic Alliance's public accounts spokesperson Raenette Taljaard who said she did not believe Woods had acted incorrectly.

Taljaard suggested that Ginwala had made "a restrictive interpretation of the constitutional accountability arrangements between the agencies and Parliament".

"One would have expected from Madame Speaker more caution and less guidance in such a politically-charged matter," she said.

Ginwala told Sapa on Tuesday she had not received a response from Woods or Scopa as yet.

She had opted not to react to Woods' comments in the House, because she had "nothing solid" other than media reports which quoted him.

Holomisa's allegations, however, went way beyond Woods' reported comments and "went every which way". 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and News24.