CAPE TOWN National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala has called on Parliament to decide how to deal with statements made by United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa about her role in the arms probe, which she says accuse her of dereliction of duty, bias and interference.

She has also criticised the chairman of parliament's public accounts committee, Gavin Woods, for publicly accusing her of sidelining the committee.

In a letter to Woods, Ginwala said it was "unacceptable" for him to attack a presiding officer in the media without raising the issues in Parliament. She called on him to apologise or submit a report from the committee.

Ginwala said Holomisa's letter accused her of obstructing parliamentary processes by stalling the report of the public accounts committee and improper interference. She urged the house to decide what to do, saying: "The house may wish to consider the matter of privilege."

Holomisa expressed surprise Ginwala had used her public office and platform to react.

He hoped any probe of her role would not become "a mere rubberstamp for African National Congress views".

Holomisa claimed the UDM had no option but to raise the issue in the media as Ginwala had directed the parliamentary debate on the arms investigation.

In an interim review, Democracy and the Arms Deal, released yesterday, Idasa expressed concern about the decision by the agencies to hold public hearings which it said could be costly and counterproductive.

Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia De Lille said she would not participate in the hearings, which were a "side show".  

With acknowledgment to Linda Ensor, Sapa and Business Day.