TV Licences in South Africa: Why You Need One, Where to Pay & Penalties

TV Licences in South Africa: Why You Need One, Where to Pay, and What Happens If You Don't

If you own a television set in South Africa, the law says you need a TV licence — even if you never watch SABC, even if you only use the TV for Netflix, DStv or a gaming console. This plain-English guide explains why the licence exists, how much it costs, where to pay it, and exactly what happens (and what it costs you) if you fall behind.

We are not the SABC. This is an independent guide. Pay and manage your licence only on the official SABC TV Licences website: tvlic.sabc.co.za.

Why do we need a TV licence?

The TV licence is not a subscription for channels — it is a statutory fee created under the Broadcasting Act 4 of 1999. Section 27 of the Act makes it an offence to use or possess a television set without a valid licence, and the money collected funds the SABC's public broadcasting mandate: news, educational programming, and content in all 11 official languages.

Two things people often get wrong:

• It is per household, not per TV. One domestic licence covers every TV set you use in your home and in your private vehicle, as long as they belong to the licence holder and members of the same household.
• It has nothing to do with DStv, Netflix or Showmax. DStv will not activate a new subscription without a valid TV licence number, but paying DStv does not pay your licence.

Who must have a TV licence?

• Anyone who owns or possesses a TV set, or a device with a built-in tuner capable of receiving broadcast signals.
• Dealers who sell or rent out TV sets (they must record your licence number at the point of sale and report it to the SABC).
• Businesses — guesthouses, hotels, pubs, hospitals and offices need a business/concessionary licence class, priced per set.

You generally do not need one for a computer monitor, tablet or phone with no broadcast tuner.

What does a TV licence cost?

Fees are reviewed regularly, so always confirm the current amounts on the SABC TV Licences website before you pay. Paying annually in advance is cheaper than paying month to month, and you can pay by debit order to avoid arrears.

Where do I pay my TV licence?

You have several options:

1. Online at tvlic.sabc.co.za with a card — the fastest way, and you get an instant receipt.
2. Debit order — set it up online or by phoning the SABC TV Licences call centre; this is the safest way to avoid penalties.
3. EFT into the SABC TV Licences bank account, using your TV licence number as the payment reference. If you leave the reference off, the payment may not be allocated to you.
4. Retailers — participating supermarkets and stores (Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite, Boxer and similar) accept TV licence payments at the till.
5. Post Office / SAPO branches where this service is still offered.

Always keep the receipt or transaction reference. If your account is ever handed to a debt collector, proof of payment is the fastest way to close the matter.

How to pay your TV licence online (step by step)

Paying online is usually the quickest way to settle or renew a licence. Follow these steps on the official SABC TV Licences website:

1. Go to the official SABC TV Licences portal. Open tvlic.sabc.co.za in your browser. Only use this official site or the official SABC call centre — do not trust third-party payment links sent by SMS or WhatsApp.
2. Register or log in. If you already have a TV licence number, log in with it and your ID number. If you are paying for the first time, register a new domestic licence using your 13-digit South African ID number (or passport number if you are not a citizen).
3. Select "Pay" or "Renew". The dashboard will show your licence status, balance, and any arrears or penalties. Choose the licence year you want to pay.
4. Choose your payment method. The portal usually offers card payment (Visa/Mastercard) and sometimes debit-order setup. Card payments reflect the same day; debit orders must be set up before the deduction date.
5. Enter the correct reference. For card payments the website automatically links the payment to your licence number. For EFT payments, use your TV licence number as the payment reference. If you pay by EFT without this reference, the money may sit unallocated and you will still look like you are in arrears.
6. Confirm and save the receipt. Once the payment is successful, download or screenshot the receipt. Write down the transaction reference, date, and amount. You may need this if a debt collector later contacts you or if the payment is not reflected immediately.
7. Check your balance again after 2–3 working days. EFTs can take a few days to match to your account. If the balance has not updated, phone the SABC TV Licences call centre with your receipt and licence number ready.

Tip: Set up a debit order for the annual amount so the licence renews automatically. This is the easiest way to avoid monthly penalties and the risk of forgetting the due date.

How to renew

Your licence runs for 12 months from the month you first registered — not from January. The SABC sends renewal notices by SMS, email or post, but not receiving a notice is not a defence. Check your expiry date and balance online using your ID number and licence number.

What happens if I don't pay?

This is the part most people search for, so here it is in order of escalation:

1. Penalties on arrears. Unpaid licence fees attract a penalty on the outstanding amount for each month you are in arrears, so a small unpaid balance grows quickly.

2. Reminders and collection calls. The SABC sends SMS and email reminders, followed by calls from its internal collections team.

3. Handover to a debt-collection agency. Persistent arrears are handed to third-party debt collectors, who may add legally permitted collection costs.

4. Summons and civil judgment. Debt collectors can issue a summons for the outstanding amount. A default judgment can be listed on your credit record and affect home loans, vehicle finance and store accounts.

5. Criminal liability. Using or possessing a TV set without a valid licence is a criminal offence under the Broadcasting Act. On conviction a court can impose a fine (and, for repeated or aggravated offences such as false statements on an application, the Act provides for imprisonment). Prosecutions are rare compared with civil collection, but they are legally possible.

6. Blocked services. Practically, you may be refused a new DStv subscription or a TV purchase on credit until your licence is valid.

How the escalation works in practice

The SABC usually follows the same path: reminders first, then internal collections, then an external debt collector, then possible legal action. The longer the debt remains unpaid, the harder and more expensive it becomes to clear.

Example 1: One late payment. Suppose the annual domestic fee is R265 and you forget to pay for three months. The SABC adds a monthly penalty to the outstanding balance. By the time you pay, you owe the original R265 plus the penalty amount for each month in arrears. Paying as soon as you receive the first SMS usually stops the account from being handed over.

Example 2: Repeated non-payment over two years. If you never pay in Year 1, the account rolls over into Year 2. You now owe two annual licence fees plus penalties on the first year and penalties on the second year. A debt that started at roughly R265 can grow to well over R600–R800 depending on how long each amount has been outstanding. At this stage the account is more likely to be handed to a collection agency.

Example 3: Account handed to a debt collector. Once a collector takes over, they may add collection costs allowed by the National Credit Act. They can send a final demand letter and then issue a summons. If you ignore the summons, the collector can apply for a default judgment, which can be listed on your credit record at the credit bureaus. That listing can make it harder to get a home loan, vehicle finance, or even a clothing account.

Example 4: Disputing a debt that is not yours. If someone registered a TV in your name or a duplicate account was created, do not ignore the letters. Request the full account history in writing, dispute the debt in writing with your ID details, and ask the SABC to trace the original registration. If a collector is already involved, you can also complain to the National Credit Regulator if the debt is being pursued unfairly.

The key point is that penalties compound monthly and the account does not go away on its own. The cheapest way to deal with arrears is to pay early or agree a payment arrangement before the account is handed over.

What if I no longer own a TV?

You cannot simply stop paying. You must formally cancel the licence with the SABC and prove you no longer possess a TV set — usually by submitting a sworn affidavit (from SAPS or a Commissioner of Oaths) stating you have sold, donated or disposed of your set, plus proof of sale where you have it. Until the cancellation is processed, the account keeps accruing fees and penalties.

The same applies if the licence holder has died — the estate must submit the death certificate to have the account closed.

How to fix arrears

• Log in at tvlic.sabc.co.za and check the full outstanding balance and penalties.
• Phone the TV Licences call centre and ask for a payment arrangement — instalment plans are commonly granted.
• Ask whether any amnesty or penalty write-off is running; the SABC periodically offers these.
• If you believe the debt is not yours (duplicate account, someone else used your ID), request the account history in writing and dispute it in writing.

Frequently confused points

• Renting a flat? The licence follows the person who owns the set, not the property.
• Student in res? You are covered by your parents' domestic licence only if you are a member of that household and the set belongs to the licence holder.
• Broken TV? A set that is broken but still in your possession does not automatically end the obligation — cancel formally.

Official sources and further reading

• SABC TV Licences — tvlic.sabc.co.za
• Broadcasting Act 4 of 1999 — gov.za legislation
• Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) — icasa.org.za
• National Credit Regulator (for debt-collection and credit-listing complaints) — ncr.org.za

Fees, penalties and concession rules change. Always confirm the current figures with the SABC before paying or disputing an amount.