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TV Licenses - everything you ever wanted to know.

TV license fees are payable in terms of the Broadcasting Act, No. 4 of 1999, as amended, which came into force on 7 March 2003, and the Regulations effective from 1 January 2004.

The following frequently asked questions and answers should clarify the legislation:

Who needs a television license?
A: Any person or entity who has his possession and/or uses a TV set. A license remains payable, irrespective of whether a set in one's possession is used or not.

What is a TV set, as defined in the Act?
A: Any device designed or adapted to be capable of receiving a broadcast television signal. This includes a PC fitted with a TV tuner card (signal receiver) and such tuner card itself, as well as a VCR (videocassette recorder) or DVD recorder linked to a monitor or plasma screen.

What are the various types of television license?
A: There are six types:
A domestic license, previously a private license, for households and/or individuals, authorizing the use of the licensed set(s) at the license holder's registered residential premises only; * A concessionary domestic license, * A business license, for entities (including government departments) using TV sets in their business/commercial activities or on premises occupied for business purpose; * A dealer license, for businesses selling TV sets; * A lessor license, for businesses renting out TV sets, and * A mobile license, for a TV set in any vehicle, caravan, mobile home, vessel or aircraft used for private purposes.

What are the annual fees?
A: R225.00 per annum for a domestic, business, dealer, lessor or mobile TV license and R65.00 per annum for a concessionary TV license. * Tariff charges may be effected without prior notice, subject to Ministerial approval.

When is a television license payable, and for how long is a license valid?
A: A TV license is payable in advance, before the beginning of a license holder's license year. A license is valid for one year and the licensing period is stated on the license.

How will I know when to renew my TV license?
A: The SABC sends out renewal notices ±2 months in advance. However, non-receipt of such notice is not an excuse for failure to renew or late renewal.

What do I need when renewing my license?
A: On renewal, one needs to present one's existing TV license, a copy thereof, or a renewal notice.

May one pay the license fee in instalments?
A: YES- but when first applying for a TV license, the full annual fee is payable. Thereafter, a domestic license may be paid in instalments of R23.00 per month. However, a concessionary license is payable only on an annual basis.

What happens is I fail to pay my TV license fees?
A: Accounts that are overdue are handed over to the SABC's laywers for debt collection. If payments are late, an account incurs a penalty of 10% per month to a maximum of 100% per annum.

What are the legal consequences of contravening the TV license legislation?
A: Anyone found guilty in a competent court of failing to comply with the law may be sentenced to a fine of R500.00 or to imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Our family has no more than one television set.

How many TV licenses do we need?
A: A single domestic license is required per household, provided that: * all sets so licensed are used only at the license holder's premises; * all sets so licensed are used only by members of the family.

Who are regarded as "members of the family"?
A: All persons who are permanently resident with the license holder and are dependent on him and are owed a legal duty of support by the license holder are covered by the single domestic license in his/her name. In other words, adult (non dependant) children earning their own keep, parents receiving a pension or own income, and boarders and lodgers living with a family are separately liable for payment of TV license fees for television sets used by them.

Is a television transferable from one license holder to another?
A: NO, EXCEPT between spouses or between partners in a permanent relationship, on the death of a husband/wife or partner.

May one use someone else's TV license to purchase a television set?
A: NO - one needs one's own TV license, unless one is a member of the family of a license holder.

Do unmarried partners sharing a residence need separate licenses if they have more than one TV set?
A: NO - a single domestic license is required, provided that the partners furnish the SABC with a standard affidavit confirming their status as unmarried parties to a life partnership.

Who qualifies for a concessionary domestic TV license?
A: One must apply to the SABC for such license. Those who qualify are: * a receiver of a social grant from the State, on the basis of being an aged or disabled person, as defined in the Social Assistance Act of 1992, * a person of 70 years or older, as from the beginning of the first license year after turning 70, subject to certain provisions.

Does my domestic TV license cover the TV set(s) in my holiday home?
A: NO. A separate license at the full annual tariff of R225.00 is required for additional residential premises.

What may a TV license inspector demand of me when visiting my premises?
A: You may be requested to produce your TV license and/or ID document or to furnish your TV license account number. If requested, a TV set must be produced for inspection. Information such as receipt numbers, numbers of TV sets, addresses etc. may also be requested in order to determine the validity of a license. Inspectors may enter any premises to carry out an inspection.

What happens if I'm caught without a license by a TV license inspector?
A: Anyone found in possession of a television set without a valid TV license would be liable for payment of the annual license fee, plus a penalty of double the license fee.

Are some persons or entities exempted from payment of license fees?
A: YES. Public schools are exempted from the legal requirement to have a TV license. If one's TV equipment (TV set and VCR) has been denatured by removing its "tuner" (signal receiver), a TV license is not required.

How is a TV set denatured so that a TV license is not required?
A: A TV set is denatured by removing its "tuner", rendering it incapable of receiving a TV signal and therefore exempt from payment of license fees. Subject to written confirmation of such denaturing following inspection of the TV set, written application for exemption must be made to the SABC three months in advance on an annual basis.

Do I need a TV license if my set is used only to view video's? What must I do if I don't want to pay a TV license?
A: What a TV set is used for is irrelevant in terms of the legal liability for payment of TV license fees. As long as one has TV receiving equipment in one's possession a license remains payable. If one doesn't want to pay a license, the SABC must be satisfied that one has no such equipment in one's possession.

When is a TV license no longer required? What must one Do to cancel a license?
A: When one has sold or otherwise disposed of one's TV set(s) a license is no longer required. The SABC must be notified on a prescribed form of the changed circumstances. No license is cancelled while moneys are still outstanding on an account.

On what basis does a business entity pay for TV sets used to conduct its business?
A: Unlike private households, businesses pay per TV set used by them.

On what basis do TV dealers pay license fees?
A: A retailer requires a single dealer (demonstration) license, covering the TV sets on display for sale. Separate business licenses are required for other sets on the premises. A retailer selling a TV set to an unlicensed purchaser will be liable for a penalty of between R3 000 end R10 000 for each set so sold.

Who has to pay the license fee for rented TV sets - the lessor or the lessee?
A: The lessor ( a business renting out TV sets) is liable for payment of TV license fees to the SABC.

What are a license holder's obligations when moving to a new address?
A: The SABC must be informed within 30 days of a change of address.

How are address changes and other TV license information conveyed to the SABC?
A: All notices to the SABC must be in writing and addressed to: The Manager, Television Licenses, SABC, Private Bag X60, Aukland Park 2006, by freepost to: JHZ153K, SABC, Aukland Park, or by telefax or e-mail to the numbers or addresses on the SABC's TV license correspondence.

What happens if the bank dishonours a cheque for payment of one's TV license?
A: An amount of R50.00 (excluding VAT) is payable per dishonoured cheque returned to the SABC by its bankers or pay points.

How and where can a TV license be paid?
A: Details of payments options and pay point are printed on the reverse side of your TV license account statement.