A Durban resident said he does not pay for his TV licence because he does not have the money and was already paying for DStv.
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Despite being a legal requirement, the SABC TV licence faces significant non-compliance in South Africa.
It was previously reported that SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) last year that less than 20% of South African households are paying their TV licences.
She pointed out that the decline in TV licence payments was placing increasing pressure on the public broadcaster’s finances, with only a small portion of its mandate costs now being funded through licence revenue.
"Fifty-five percent of our mandate costs are funded, and they are funded by declining license fees, so in South Africa, less than 20% of households that should be paying for a TV licence actually pay for a TV licence.
"Unlike globally, in the BBC, for example, where you have more than 80% compliance, at the SABC, in terms of our commercial structure, 83% of our revenue comes from commercial activities and 13% of our revenue comes from TV licences, and that money keeps on declining year on year," she said.
However, despite the broadcaster’s revenue decline, some South Africans insist they will not pay their TV licences.
Nobuhle Dhlomo from uMlazi says she is not paying her TV licence because she no longer uses traditional television and does not see value in the fee.
"The reason why I don't pay for the TV licence is that, whether I pay for it or not, my TV channels are not blocked, I'm still able to enjoy content, but most importantly, because I hardly watch SABC content now," she said.
"I watch Netflix and other streaming services. The licence thing is a bit outdated."
IOL previously reported that even the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chairperson, Khusela Diko, had confirmed that she owed the SABC TV licence fees.
“I am told I have a debt of over R10k, which just does not make sense to me since the licence is R265 per annum. I’ve paid R3k of it to date and am still hoping for a resolution #PayYourTVLicence it’s the right thing to do (sic),” she wrote last month on X.
Another Durban resident, who did not want to be named, said he does not pay for his TV licence because he does not have the money and was already paying for DStv.
"I don't understand why I should pay for the SACB TV licence when I'm already paying for DSTV, which has SABC channels. This does not make sense to me," he said.
"The government should come up with another plan for the SABC because the TV licence thing is outdated, and very few people are paying."
However, South Africans could soon not need to pay for the licence.
Last month IOL reported that Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi had confirmed that new funding models for the struggling SABC have been submitted to the government, with several funding options now under consideration for legislative changes.
Malatsi appointed Johannesburg-based research firm BMIT Knowledge Group in September 2025 to develop the model amid the public broadcaster’s falling revenue and mounting financial challenges.
"The appointed service provider met the extended deadline to submit its final report and recommended funding model options. The department is now engaging the SABC and National Treasury on the recommendations, followed by consultation with the Minister of Finance to enable government to consider and select the most appropriate option", the minister said.
"In line with the Service Level Agreement, the service provider remains available to provide technical support during these consultations. The process is therefore proceeding as planned and is not delayed beyond the extended deadline."
Malatsi added that the funding model was developed by his department as the SABC’s shareholder and would be included in amendments to the Broadcasting Act.
"To ensure the sustainable, long-term recapitalisation of the SABC, the selection of the funding model from the service provider's recommendations will be made in consultation with the National Treasury and the Minister of Finance, as they are responsible for the national fiscus.
"Additionally, the Board of the entity remains responsible for the development and implementation of the Corporation's strategy to ensure its long-term sustainability. There are no intentions to interfere with editorial independence when the new funding model is introduced and the SABC will continue to maintain its editorial independence."