A fiery debate is expected to take place on Thursday afternoon marking a controversial motion of confidence which will be brought by the ruling party in the Speaker, Dr Frene Ginwala.

The debate - expected to take place from about 2.15pm and is scheduled to run for 102 minutes.

It will be led by African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni.

The debate follows remarks made in an open letter by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

Holomisa, a former top-ranking ANC MP and former Deputy Minister, accused the Speaker of meddling in the work of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in its oversight over the arms probe - which at one point saw Yengeni accused of accepting a luxury 4X4.

Ginwala said the Holomisa letter was defamatory and alleged it had accused her of dereliction of duty.

At the time the ANC also issued a statement saying it noted with concern "the unwarranted attack on the Speaker" by the UDM leader.

The ANC said it firmly believed that Ginwala had "conducted the business in the House and all Parliamentary matters in a fair and impartial manner that has preserved the integrity of the House (the National Assembly)".

Ginwala has also threatened Holomisa with legal action to which he responded that the Speaker could not conduct her defence in both the courts and the House.

It is not certain at this stage whether the opposition will act in concert. But it is known that the Democratic Alliance and the UDM will oppose the motion - the first of its kind since the advent of full participatory democracy in 1994.

The Inkatha Freedom Party, which is the minor member of the governing coalition, is likely not to go against the ruling party position - even though the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Gavin Woods, an IFP member, has openly criticised Ginwala.

With acknowledgment to Donwald Pressly and Business Day.