With 85% of South Africans currently non-compliant, and the SABC’s funding model under review, many consumers are asking the same question: Should you pay your TV licence?
The SABC TV licence has become one of South Africa’s most widely ignored legal obligations. In a country where Netflix, streaming services, and mobile data have largely replaced terrestrial television, millions of households have quietly stopped paying — or never paid to begin with. But the fact that non-compliance is common does not make it legal, and the consequences of ignoring this obligation can become serious.
This article sets out the legal position as it stands in 2026, outlines the real-world risks of non-payment, and explains what you should do if you find yourself with an outstanding TV licence account.
Interesting Facts:
85%: Non-compliance rate among South African households in 2025
R4.8bn: Total TV licence debt owed to the SABC as of 2023/24
R265: Annual licence fee
Are You Legally Required to Pay?
The short answer is yes — for most South Africans. The Broadcasting Act requires that any person who possesses television receiving equipment must hold a valid TV licence. This is not limited to households that watch SABC channels. If your television set is capable of receiving a broadcast signal, even if you use it exclusively to stream content or watch DVDs, you are legally required to be licensed.
The only meaningful exemptions are narrow. Public schools are the sole educational institutions formally exempt. Private schools, universities, hospitals, frail-care homes, churches, and charities are all still required to hold licences. For individuals, exemption is only possible where the television set has been permanently modified so that it can no longer receive a broadcast signal — a step that requires formal notification to the SABC backed by an affidavit.
Important: What counts as “television receiving equipment”?
Under the Broadcasting Act, what a television set is used for is legally irrelevant. If it is capable of receiving a broadcast signal, a licence is required. Simply using a TV only for streaming services or gaming does not exempt you from the obligation.
The Scale of Non-Compliance in 2026
It is worth understanding just how widespread non-payment has become. Non-compliance has climbed sharply from 69% in 2019 to approximately 85% in 2025, and even the SABC’s own leadership has acknowledged that the current model has effectively broken down. The broadcaster’s CEO and board chair have both called for a new funding mechanism to replace the existing licence system.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the SABC collected R758 million in licence fee revenue — an improvement on the prior year, but still far short of what the broadcaster requires to function sustainably. Total outstanding TV licence debt now exceeds R4.8 billion. The government has tasked advisory firm BMI TechKnowledge with developing a new funding model, with proposals centring on a device-neutral household levy to be collected by the South African Revenue Service.
TV licence avoidance has reached a point where even government departments have failed to pay their own obligations to the SABC — a situation the Auditor-General’s office has specifically flagged in its national audit report.
However, and this is the critical point, the fact that a law is widely broken does not mean it is not enforced. The SABC retains the legal power to pursue outstanding accounts, and the consequences for individual consumers can be severe.
What Happens When You Stop Paying
Non-payment does not simply result in your account being quietly closed. There is a formal escalation process, and the costs associated with your outstanding debt can grow substantially at each stage.
The Enforcement Escalation Path:
- Reminder Notices & Demand Letters
The SABC will issue renewal reminders and formal demand notices. Non-receipt of a notice does not exempt you from the obligation to renew. - Penalty Surcharges of Up to 100%
A penalty of 10% per month is applied to overdue accounts, compounding to a maximum of 100% per year. A single missed annual renewal of R265 can legally double in debt within 12 months.
- Handover to Debt Collectors or Attorneys
Overdue accounts are referred to the SABC’s contracted debt collection agencies or its legal services department. Additional collection costs are typically added to the outstanding balance at this stage.
- Formal Legal Action & Court Proceedings
If the debt remains unresolved, the SABC may institute legal proceedings. A court judgment can be obtained against you, which is recorded on your credit profile.
- Criminal Prosecution in Serious Cases
In the most serious cases, a person found guilty of non-compliance under the Broadcasting Act may face a fine of up to R500, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
The Financial Consequences in Detail
The penalty structure is one of the most underappreciated aspects of TV licence non-compliance. A 10% monthly penalty, applied to an annual fee of R265, means that the debt can double within a single year. When you add collection costs, legal fees, and the possibility of a double-fee penalty upon detection, the total amount owed can become many times the original licence fee.
Caught Without a Licence — Additional Liability
If a TV licence inspector finds you in possession of a television set without a valid licence, you may be liable for the full annual fee plus a further penalty equal to double the annual fee. That is three times the base cost, in addition to any arrears already owing.
It is also worth noting that, while a missed TV licence payment will not immediately appear on your credit record, a court judgment absolutely will. Once judgment is granted, it forms part of your credit profile and can affect your ability to obtain finance, rent property, or apply for employment in roles requiring a clean credit record.
How Long Can the Debt Be Pursued?
This is the question we are most frequently asked — and the answer is not reassuring for those hoping the debt has simply expired.
In South Africa, TV licence debt is generally treated as a debt that prescribes after 30 years under the Prescription Act, not the standard three-year period that applies to most consumer debts. This means the SABC can, in principle, pursue an unpaid account for decades after it was first incurred.
Prescription is Interrupted When You:
- Acknowledge the debt in writing or verbally
- Make any payment, however small
- Are served with legal process
- Enter into any payment arrangement
You Cannot Assume the Debt Has Expired If:
- You have received any correspondence about it
- You have previously made part-payments
- Legal proceedings were ever instituted
- The account was handed over to attorneys
Unless prescription has clearly run its full course without interruption, the debt may still be pursued against you.
Is the System About to Change?
South Africa’s TV licence regime is under formal review, and there is a realistic prospect that the current system will be replaced in the coming years. The leading proposal involves a device-neutral household levy — potentially set between R100 and R300 per year — that would be collected by SARS rather than the SABC. This would apply to all households, regardless of whether they own a television set, reflecting how South Africans now consume content across phones, laptops, and streaming devices.
Both the SABC’s CEO and board chair have publicly stated that the current TV licence model is no longer viable. The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has confirmed that a new funding model is being developed, though no final decision has been adopted as government policy.
Until new legislation is passed and in force, the existing Broadcasting Act remains the law.
What You Should Do
Whether you’re up to date, behind on payments, or unsure where you stand, take action early.
- If you own a television, you are generally required to have a valid licence. If you choose not to pay, understand that the consequences, penalties, legal action, and added costs can follow. If you’d rather avoid that, the safest option is to keep your licence current.
- If you no longer own a television, you are not automatically exempt. You must formally cancel your licence by submitting the required SABC form with a supporting affidavit. Simply stopping payments will not close the account, and penalties will continue to build.
- If your television has been modified so it cannot receive a signal, you must apply for exemption and provide proof. This must be formally accepted.
Our Assessment
While South Africa’s TV licence system is under review and may change in the years ahead, the current law remains in force.
If you are uncertain about your position or have received correspondence from the SABC or its attorneys, we recommend seeking legal advice before responding.
While every reasonable effort is taken to ensure the accuracy and soundness of the contents of this publication, neither the writers of articles nor the publisher will bear any responsibility for the consequences of any actions based on information or recommendations contained herein. Our material is for informational purposes.