Owe SABC TV licence? Big changes could soon be coming
Could the SABC TV licence be on the verge of extinction? As the government explores new funding options for the struggling broadcaster, South Africans need to stay informed about the potential changes ahead
The South African government is contemplating a shift in funding methods for the public broadcaster, the SABC. The current TV licence of R265 per year has become a financial burden for the broadcaster, with only 20% of required households paying up. This has led to criticism as more people shift to streaming services and question the need for a separate fee for SABC content.
Despite this, the licence remains legally mandatory for most television owners. The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has appointed a research firm to develop a new funding model for the SABC. The firm submitted its final report recently, recommending various funding options for consideration by the SABC and National Treasury. The SABC will continue to maintain its editorial independence under the new funding model.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
