Parliament faces another stormy battle today over disgraced ANC MP Tony Yengeni amid clear signs from the ruling party that it is closing ranks around its former chief whip.

In a rare public clash yesterday between the ANC and one of its most senior members, National Assembly Speaker Frene Ginwala - who was supported by all opposition parties - the stage was set for another dramatic battle today over Yengeni's apparent lies to parliament about his Mercedes-Benz 4x4.

ANC insiders said yesterday there was no indication that Yengeni was willing to resign, and, since neither the party nor parliament had the power to expel an MP, the party would have a torrid time dealing with the issue.

After heated debate on the issue in the National Assembly's (NA) Joint Rules Committee yesterday, which saw Ginwala and opposition parties lining up in a pitched battle against the ruling party, the house is this afternoon expected to discuss a proposal by the ANC to summon Yengeni to an ad hoc committee instead of a full sitting of the house.

Ginwala proposed to the rules committee that Yengeni be called to appear before a full plenary session of the NA to explain his apparent lies to the house on March 28 last year.

The ANC vehemently opposed Ginwala's calls, arguing that while Yengeni should explain himself, he should appear before "a smaller committee" of the NA instead of the plenary. Yengeni could possibly appear before the NA later, ANC MP Mluleki George said.

Protesting his innocence in the NA at the time, Yengeni said about his Mercedes-Benz 4x4: "Its acquisition does not in any way amount to a gift or a donation and therefore there was no interest to be declared."

However, in a plea bargain agreement with the state last month, Yengeni was convicted on charges of misleading parliament by failing to declare the discount on his Mercedes. "It is extremely serious to mislead parliament.

"I am asking the house to act on this matter," Ginwala said.

"It's time the South African public realised that some people in this parliament take the institution very seriously, and let us see how many," Ginwala said.

The ANC disagreed with Ginwala's calls for Yengeni to appear before a full sitting of the NA, with one senior member of the party after the other, led by Chief Whip Nathi Nhleko, lining up to criticise her approach.

Leading the charge, Nhleko cautioned against passing judgment on Yengeni before he had a chance to explain himself.

"We seem to be passing some sort of judgment on the matter without following due process ... Mr Yengeni himself has to be heard also," said Nhleko, suggesting that Yengeni's admission of guilt in court was not enough.

Nhleko's deputy, Andries Nel, argued that the ANC's proposal was based on a precedent set when ministers had been accused of misleading parliament.

They were summoned to appear before an ad hoc committee, after which they apologised to the house.

Ginwala insisted that the two cases were not on a par as Yengeni had deliberately made a statement to the house after asking for the opportunity to do so, whereas the ministers had misled the house during debate and in answering questions.

"I think it falls into a different species of statement than might occur in the context of responding to or answering a question," she said.

Democratic Party chief whip Douglas Gibson roundly supported Ginwala and called on the ANC to press for Yengeni's resignation: "It is quite clear that Mr Yengeni did mislead the house deliberately. There is can be no question about that," said Gibson.

Inkatha Freedom Party MP Sybil Seaton said there was "no doubt that the house was misled. I would appeal to the ANC to take a decision (on Yengeni's future)".

African Christian Democratic Party MP Louis Green said it was Yengeni's "own confession that he misled the house" and denounced the suggestion that the issue be resolved by putting it to the vote.

Yengeni was due to appear before parliament's ethics committee today, but the meeting was postponed to later this month, after he has been sentenced in court.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Michaels and Cape Times.