End of SABC TV Licences: What You Need to Know
South Africans—from students and job seekers to parents and public servants, have been asking the same question: are TV licences finally ending? With the SABC’s finances under pressure and Parliament still wrangling over the SABC Bill, it’s easy to feel confused. This guide cuts through the noise. You’ll learn what has changed, what hasn’t, what might replace TV licences, and what you should do right now to stay on the right side of the law and avoid penalties.
Where things stand today (September 2025)
The short answer: TV licences still exist
Until Parliament replaces the system, TV licences remain a legal requirement under section 27 of the Broadcasting Act. If you own or use a TV set, you must hold a valid licence, and non-payment can carry penalties in law.
What’s changing: Government is designing a new funding model
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi says his department has received three bids in response to a July 2025 tender to design a new SABC funding model. The SABC and National Treasury will sit on the bid evaluation committee, with a decision expected this week; the chosen provider would then have about three months to finalise the model.
Is the SABC Bill alive—or withdrawn? A quick timeline
- Oct 2023: SABC Bill introduced but it didn’t settle the funding question.
- Nov 2024: Minister Malatsi notified the Speaker he was withdrawing the “totally flawed” Bill, drawing strong criticism from the Portfolio Committee.
- Dec 2024: The Committee publicly argued the Minister could not unilaterally withdraw an executive Bill, leaving the Bill in limbo.
- Aug 26, 2025: Committee chair Khusela Diko wrote to Malatsi demanding an urgent update, citing months of delay as the SABC crisis worsens
Bottom line: The Bill’s status is contested, but the funding-model work is moving via the department’s tender process.
What could replace TV licences?
Option 1: A household levy (Germany-style)
The SABC has repeatedly floated a mandatory household levy, collected regardless of whether you watch SABC—akin to Germany’s Rundfunkbeitrag. SABC policy head Philly Moilwa suggested SARS could collect it, and that DStv might factor fees into pricing. MultiChoice opposes collecting on SABC’s behalf.
Option 2: A streaming services levy
In March 2025, the Minister said a levy on local and international streaming platforms was under consideration to help fund public broadcasting. His spokesperson stressed this was only one of several options, not a formal proposal.
Interim measures proposed by the SABC
- VAT zero-rating of TV licences to boost cash flow by about R100 million.
- Raising the TV licence fee (warning: this would likely burden the same “legacy” payers who still comply). The SABC told Parliament the payer base is stagnant: “no new person… is buying a TV licence”.
What you should do right now
If you own or use a TV
- Stay compliant: Keep your licence up to date until the law changes.
- Avoid penalties: Late accounts incur penalties; the law provides for fines on conviction.
- Keep proof: Save payment confirmations in case of queries or debt-collection errors. (Practical tip: set an annual calendar reminder.)
If you sold, scrapped or no longer use your TV
You may apply to stop paying if your set is denatured/sold according to the TV Licence Regulations. Contact the SABC and submit proof so your record is updated.
If you heard you need a licence for radios or phones
That rumour resurfaces often. The current system applies only to TV sets, per the Broadcasting Act and the SABC’s own clarification.
FAQs
When will TV licences end?
There’s no confirmed end date. The department expects to appoint a service provider imminently and then take ~3 months to deliver a funding model; any replacement scheme would still require legislative changes. Until then, the existing law applies.
Could DStv be forced to collect for the SABC?
It’s been discussed as a pro-competitive licence condition, but MultiChoice has opposed collecting SABC fees. No such requirement exists today.
Will streaming services like Netflix pay a levy?
A streaming levy is on the table as an option, but not a formal proposal. It would require careful policy design and lawmaking.
What if I haven’t paid in years?
The law still requires payment; accounts can be pursued via debt collectors, and criminal penalties exist in statute (though large-scale prosecutions are rare). Consider contacting the SABC or a consumer-rights group to resolve arrears.
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For now, TV licences remain in force while government finalises a new SABC funding model. Expect movement in the coming weeks on the tender and more clarity on whether a household levy or streaming levy (or a mix) becomes the replacement.
Action for you: keep your licence current, update your status if you no longer own a TV, and watch for official updates from Parliament, the SABC, and the Department of Communications.
