Name of the Organization : South African Broadcasting Corporation
Type of Facility : Apply For Domestic Television Licence
Country : South Africa
Official Website : http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/SABC/SABCTVLICENCES
Domestic Television Licence :
All of the below general obligations apply to the holder of a domestic/household television licence.
Related : SABC Retailers & Business Licences South Africa : www.statusin.org/4950.html
In terms of the Broadcasting Act and Television Licence Regulations licence holders are required to take note of and/or comply with the following :
** All TV licence fees are payable in advance, at the beginning of each licence year.
** A television licence is valid only at the permanent address reflected on the licence.
** A TV licence is valid for one year and the licensing period is stated on the licence.
** Renewal dates are spread over 12 months, with a TV licence holder’s renewal month determined by the first letter of his/her surname or, alternatively, by the month of acquisition of his/her television set.
General Licence Holder Obligations :
** The SABC sends out renewal notices ±2 months in advance. However, the Broadcasting Act states explicitly that non-receipt of such notice is not a legally acceptable reason for late or non-renewal – the onus rests on a licence holder to renew by the due date without any prompting from the SABC.
** When taking out a domestic/household television licence for the first time, a person is required to provide his/her personal particulars : surname, initials, ID number, fixed address and contact details.
** When first applying for a television licence the full annual fee is payable. Thereafter, a domestic licence may be paid in monthly instalments. A concessionary licence is payable in full annually and may not be paid in instalments. (Refer to tariff schedule under point 5).
** When renewing a television licence, a person is required to present an existing licence, a copy thereof, or a renewal notice.
** A licence holder must notify the SABC, in writing, of a change of address within 30 days.
** A television licence is not required when a person is no longer in possession of a TV set. The SABC must be notified on a prescribed form of the changed circumstances making possession of a TV licence unnecessary, as a result of the licensed television set having been sold/given away; stolen, repossessed or having broken down permanently. Such notice must be given by way of an affidavit/solemn statement by no later than 30 days after the end of a licence holder’s current licence year.
** A television licence does not “lapse” and isn’t “cancelled automatically” if payment is discontinued – prescribed obligations have to be complied with and documentation completed to have a television licence cancelled. Should a licensed TV set have been sold or donated as a gift, the SABC requires the new owner’s particulars; should it have been stolen, the date of the theft, the name of the Police Station to which and the case number under which the theft was reported is needed; should it have been repossessed, documentary proof in the form of a repossession letter from a dealer must be provided; and should a TV set have broken down confirmation that the set is permanently out of order is required – also by way of an affidavit.
** No licence is cancelled while moneys are still outstanding on an account. All arrears, applicable penalties and a fine become payable if one is found in possession of a television set after cancellation of one’s licence.
** A television licence is not transferable from one licence holder to another except between spouses or between unmarried “life partners” in a permanent relationship, on the death of a husband/wife or partner.
** A person purchasing a television set must be in possession of a valid (paid-up) TV licence. A television set may not be purchased using someone else’s TV licence.
** A single domestic television licence is required per household regardless of the number of TV sets, provided that all sets so licensed are used at a licence holder’s residential premises only by members of his/her family.
** “Family members of a television licence holder” – defined as all persons who are permanently resident with the licence holder; and are dependent on him, and are owed a legal duty of support by the licence holder – are covered by a single TV licence in his/her name. A person has to meet all three of these conditions to be covered by a household’s TV licence. In practice, such domestic licence covers a licence holder and his/her immediate, dependent family members – in the case of a married couple, a husband/wife and his/her dependent, minor children. Adult (non-dependent) children or more distant relatives – such as adult children, parents/ grandparents, brothers/sisters, uncles/aunts – or boarders or lodgers sharing a family’s home, are not defined as family members. They are separately liable for television sets in their possession and/or used by them.
** A separate domestic television licence at the full annual tariff is required for a second or additional residential property (e.g., a holiday home) since a different physical address is involved.
** Television licence accounts that are more than 60 days overdue are handed over to the SABC’s lawyers for debt collection. If payments are late, an account incurs a penalty of 10% per month to a maximum of 100% per annum.
** An authorised Television Licence Inspector may enter any property in order to verify whether there is a TV set at such premises. He/she may request the owner or occupier of such premises to produce a television licence or ID document and/or to provide an ID or TV licence account number. He/she may ask that a television set be produced for inspection. Information such as receipt numbers, number of television sets, addresses, etc, may also be requested in order to determine the validity of a television licence. A business, dealer or lessor of TV sets may be requested to furnish information about any transaction involving television sets, such as sales, rental agreements, etc. An authorised inspector may be identified by his/her TV Licence Inspector Card and/or by contacting the SABC on 011-3309555.
Television Licence Fees : [Annual Licence Fees]
Domestic licence – R265.00
Customer Care Contact Centre : 011-330 9555