Dr Gavin Woods, who chairs parliament's public accounts committee (Scopa), refused on Tuesday to apologise for publicly criticising National Assembly Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala.

Meanwhile, parliamentary officials are looking at ways to deal with claims from another MP that she misused her position to favour the ANC in the arms-deal probe.

In a letter to Ginwala on Tuesday, Woods said he did not believe the speaker was the "aggrieved party" in this matter. He said that as chairperson of Scopa and a member of parliament, it was his constitutional responsibility to defend the committee and its role.

'You imposed your will in ways which have weakened the committee'

"While I believe that you as Speaker ought to support me in this regard, it would seem the opposite has been the case. "In fact, not only did you take the lead in unjustifiably challenging the committee's work, you also imposed your will in ways which have weakened the committee in its arms deal-related work," Woods said.

Ginwala wrote to Woods earlier this month calling for an apology from him for comments he made in the media. Failing this, the committee should table an official report on Woods' claim that she influenced moves to keep the committee in the dark on the investigation.

Woods had said that Scopa - which initially recommended there be a multi-agency probe into the deal - appeared to have been sidelined by the joint investigating team.

He claimed Ginwala had "by design" been instrumental in sidelining the committee.

Woods said that besides a "weakly directed" letter to Deputy President Jacob Zuma, Ginwala had chosen to ignore attacks by various cabinet ministers on the work and intentions of the committee.

This was despite the constitutional questions about the relationship between the legislature and executive that arose from such criticism.

"All this has led to very damaging conflict within the committee."

Woods said he had to take a stand because he believed recent developments were contrary to the committee's oversight and accountability role. "I will do this no matter any personal consequences," he said.

Parliamentary officials were on Tuesday compiling a list of options on how to deal with an attack by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Ginwala's actions regarding the deal.

In an open letter to the media and diplomats last week, Holomisa accused Ginwala of, among other things, dereliction of duty and bias because of her interventions in parliament. A day later, in a special statement to the House, Ginwala urged MPs to examine the allegations.

The whips of the 13 political parties in parliament are to consider options on dealing with the issue at the weekly Chief Whips' Forum on Wednesday.

This follows a meeting earlier on Tuesday between Ginwala and the whips.

The options they will examine are expected to include:

·  taking no action;

·  calling for a debate in the national assembly; or,

·  setting up a committee to investigate the matter, the structure and terms of reference of which would also have to be decided.  

The whips will take the proposals to the party caucuses on Thursday, after which a resolution will be compiled and tabled in the national assembly on Friday.  

The ANC has finally came out in support of its senior member - almost a week to the day after Ginwala was publicly criticised by Holomisa.  

In a notice of motion in the House the party followed up on a statement, issued on Monday, placing its full confidence in the Speaker.  

It said Ginwala had conducted national assembly business and all parliamentary matters in a fair and impartial manner that had preserved the integrity of the House.  

Ginwala, however, also came under fire on Tuesday from the Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party.  

DA leader Tony Leon said in a statement the Speaker's involvement in the arms deal investigation "has not been her finest hour".  

She should have stood up and defended parliament and Scopa against the executive criticism, but had seemed to join the "other side".  

ACDP President Kenneth Meshoe said his party objected to what appeared to be the application of double standards in the running of parliament.

He could not understand why Ginwala had asked the House to respond urgently to Holomisa's claims, while parliament seemed to "drag its feet" when considering other serious matters involving senior members of the ANC.  

With acknowledgment to Sapa and Independent Online.