The ad hoc committee on the SABC board inquiry “has given our people new hope that our public representatives in Parliament will never allow this rampant corruption and disrespect of the law to continue”‚ Cope said on Friday.

The party’s Dennis Bloem said the “people of this country are looking anxiously forward to the ad-hoc committee’s final report and its recommendations”.

His comments came as the committee was to set for a second day of deliberation over a working document ahead of releasing a draft report for comment.

Among its early recommendations was for a probe into wasteful and irregular expenditure and that efforts be made to recover these funds.

“Cope believes that the only way to restore the credibility and image of the SABC is by taking decisive action and make examples of all those who have disregarded the law.

“The stolen taxpayers’ money must be recovered and criminal charges be laid against the perpetrators. Parliament must do that to show the new incoming board and make them aware that whoever disregard the law will go to jail.”

Bloem said the committee’s “primary objective must be to stop the decline of the SABC and that the committee is not there just to find anyone guilty or innocent”.

But‚ of the broadcaster controversial former chief operating officer‚ he added: “Over the past few weeks‚ the country has heard first-hand evidence from former SABC board chairpersons‚ members‚ senior officials and journalists on how the public broadcaster was turned into a personal property of an individual called Hlaudi Motsoeneng.” – TMG Digital