SABC TV licences
The SABC has a database of 10.5 million TV licence holders, with approximately 8.6 million currently not holding a licence. Image: Twitter/SABC

Home » Almost 90% of South Africans DIDN’T PAY THEIR TV LICENCES in 2023

Almost 90% of South Africans DIDN’T PAY THEIR TV LICENCES in 2023

The number of people who stopped paying their TV licences increased dramatically from 2019 to 2023 according to an SABC board chair member.

21-09-23 16:28
SABC TV licences
The SABC has a database of 10.5 million TV licence holders, with approximately 8.6 million currently not holding a licence. Image: Twitter/SABC

The South African Broadcasting Corporation is facing a losing battle with the payment of TV licences.

SABC board chair Khathutshelo Ramukumba told the Parliament’s Communications and Digital Technologies portfolio committee that only 13% of TV owners paid their TV licences in 2023 so far, according to CapeTalk.

87% OF TV OWNERS DID NOT PAY THEIR TV LICENCES IN FULL

The SABC is facing serious financial issues after the Parliament’s Communications and Digital Technologies portfolio committee was told that the state broadcaster reported a loss of R1 billion in their 2022/2023 financial year.

According to The Outlier, “The SABC has all but lost the battle to enforce TV licence fees. In a parliamentary briefing in September 2023, SABC board chair Khathutshelo Ramukumba said the ‘evasion’ rate was about 87%. In 2019, it was 69%. There were 10.5-million owners liable for TV licence fees in 2022. Of these, 1.9-million settled their fees in full or in part. Annual TV licence fees raised R815-million for the state-owned broadcaster in 2022, R152-million less than in 2019.”

Check out the infographic below for the full list and thanks to the Outlier:

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