Speaker Frene Ginwala is facing public criticism on several fronts as parties scramble to decide how to react to her request to the national assembly to respond to the public attack against her by United Democratic Movement leader General Bantu Holomisa.

This week whips from all parties are expected to meet at Ginwala's request to discuss how to proceed in the wake of Holomisa's allegations she had abused her office by allegedly interfering in parliamentary handling of the arms deal investigation.

The latest attack on Ginwala, following those by Holomisa and public accounts committee head Gavin Woods, has come from Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon.

Addressing a public meeting, Leon accused Ginwala of having failed parliament and of having "stepped off her throne into the hurly-burly of contested politics".

'Stepped off her throne into the hurly-burly of contested politics'

Leon said Ginwala should not invoke her status as speaker to defend herself, and said she had "gone over to the other side" in parliament's relations with the executive.

The UDM is watching with keen interest to see Ginwala's reaction to Leon's comments, which party insiders argue represent criticism similar to that by Holomisa which so upset Ginwala.

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party, Woods's political home and the ANC's partner in government, has launched an investigation of the powers and privileges of the speaker to help it decide its response.

IFP Chief Whip Koos van der Merwe said the study, conducted by the party's research department, should not be viewed as a hostile exercise.

IFP researchers have asked parliament's library for information on speakers worldwide, South Africa's laws relating to presiding officers, the rules of parliament, and High Court judgments.  

With acknowledgment  to the Parliamentary Bureau, Sapa and Independent Online.