The speaker of the national assembly, Frene Ginwala, has made a rare bare-knuckled attack on opposition party members in response to a motion of confidence debate held two weeks ago.

Ginwala, closing debate on parliament's budget vote, said she was taking temporary advantage of Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon's comment that she had stepped off her "throne" and had entered "the hurly, burly of contested politics" by commenting on the report of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa).

She singled out DA chief whip Douglas Gibson for attack. Gibson last week said that there had been many "shocking" incidents which had weakened parliament.

Ginwala responded: "I cannot help asking why someone, who is the chief whip of the official opposition and who professes a commitment to strengthening parliament, did not feel it necessary to raise these shocking incidents until a parliamentary debate was precipitated by another party. Honourable Gibson, you really should try and explain your silence while parliament was being weakened."

'You really should try and explain your silence’

Gibson shouted that he had not been silent and had spoken up with regards to the committee investigating false allegations made by Justice Minister Penuell Maduna, and the investigation into how ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni obtained his vehicle.

Ginwala went on to criticise Gibson for saying that she was "dragging" her feet with regards to amending the Powers and Privileges Act. She said Gibson's party was never present during discussions in 1998 because he would have known that a committee she chaired had completed the new draft legislation.

She turned to Inkatha Freedom Party MP and Scopa chairperson Dr Gavin Woods, saying that once the national assembly adopted the Scopa report, it no longer belonged to the committee. Hence she could comment on it.

Woods obtained legal advice long before she entered the fray to the effect that Scopa could not instruct bodies that were accountable to the executive. But when Woods said that Scopa and the national assembly had instructed the president that four agencies investigate allegations of graft in the award of contracts in the R43-billion arms deal, she had to intervene as this action would have been illegal.

With regards to United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, who sparked the debate after accusing her of dereliction of duty, among other issues, Ginwala said he had failed to substantiate his allegations when he was protected by parliamentary privilege. Now he would have to do so in a "different venue" - suggesting that she may sue him.

But she ended on a conciliatory note, saying MPs had achieved much in a short space of time and should not regard their relationship with the executive as one of "enemies".

With acknowledgement to Charles Phahlane and The Star.