The ANC majority in the National Assembly carried a motion of confidence in Speaker Frene Ginwala on Thursday, despite an opposition call that a special committee be set up to probe allegations of bias against her.    

Ginwala was not present during the 102-minute debate, which was chaired by her deputy, Baleka Mbete.

She left parliament after lunch to catch a flight to New York to attend a meeting of the Human Security Committee.  

Ginwala said she was not prepared to comment.  

This had led to some shocking incidents  

The motion, introduced by ANC Chief Whip Tony Yengeni, was adopted by 192 votes, with 55 votes against and 36 abstentions.

The ANC and the Minority Front's sole MP voted in favour of the motion, with the Democratic Alliance, the United Christian Democratic Party and the Freedom Front voting against.  

The Inkatha Freedom Party, United Democratic Movement, African Christian Democratic Party, Pan Africanist Congress and Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging abstained.  

Azapo's sole MP, Deputy Education Minister Mosibudi Mangena, is overseas on official business.

During debate on the motion, DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson introduced an amendment calling for a parliamentary committee - on which all parties should have equal representation - to be set up and to report to parliament by June 29.  

Ginwala is on record as saying she favours this route.  

The DA amendment was defeated by 192 votes to 70, with 21 abstentions by the IFP.  

Opening the debate, ANC MP Pallo Jordan said what was at stake was not merely the integrity and dignity of one person, but that of parliament as an institution.  

Referring to UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, whose allegations of bias and dereliction of duty against Ginwala prompted the motion, he said: "It is not Dr Ginwala, but Bantu Holomisa and the party he leads who deserve to be in the dock."  

Holomisa should have the moral courage to retract his unfounded allegations and apologise, Jordan said.  

Gibson told MPs a motion of confidence was an inappropriate way of dealing with the matter.  

"None of the allegations made will be substantiated. None of them will be refuted," said Gibson.  

He praised Ginwala's contribution to the establishment of democratic parliamentary traditions in the country.  

This was echoed by all opposition parties, including the UDM.  

However, when there was a clash between her role as a politician and her role as Speaker, "her role as a politician has sometimes won", Gibson said.  

This had led to some shocking incidents that had weakened parliament instead of strengthening it.  

IFP Chief Whip Koos van der Merwe accused Ginwala of interfering in the public accounts committee's overseeing of the arms deal. The committee is chaired by IFP member Gavin Woods, who was the first to raise questions about Ginwala's impartiality.  

Van der Merwe called for a special parliamentary committee to look at the powers and privileges of the Speaker "to remove doubt".    

With acknowledgment to Independent Online.