WHEN IS A TV LICENCE NO LONGER REQUIRED? WHAT MUST ONE DO TO CANCEL A LICENCE?
When one has sold or otherwise disposed of one’s television set(s) a TV licence is no longer required. The SABC must be notified on a prescribed form (affidavit) of the changed circumstances. No licence is cancelled while money is still outstanding on an account.

HOW IS A TV SET “DENATURED” SO THAT A TV LICENCE IS NOT REQUIRED?
Removal of a television set’s “tuner” renders it incapable of receiving any TV signal and, consequently, exempt from the need to be licensed. Written notice to the SABC of such denaturing must be supported by documentary proof in the form of a letter/invoice/receipt from a reputable TV repairer or installer.

An R300.00 payment must accompany such application to the SABC, after which an authorised agent will be despatched to inspect the applicant’s TV equipment. On receipt of confirmation from the agent that the applicant has NO television receiving equipment [TV set(s), VCR(s) or PC(s) fitted with a tuner card] in his/her possession, he/she will be exempted from payment of licence fees for the rest of the current licensing period.

Should a licence holder thereafter require such exemption to be extended, written application by way of an affidavit confirming that the applicant still has no TV receiving equipment must be made on an annual basis three months before the end of each licence year.

Should an authorised inspector visit an exempted licence holder’s premises and find that the receiving capability of his/her TV equipment has been restored, he/she becomes liable for payment of all applicable licence fees and penalties, plus an R300.00 inspection fee.

DO I NEED A TV LICENCE IF MY SET IS USED ONLY TO VIEW VIDEOS? WHAT MUST I DO IF I DON’T WANT TO PAY A TV LICENCE? What a television set is used for is irrelevant in terms of the legal liability for payment of TV licence fees. As long as one has television receiving equipment in one’s possession a licence remains payable. If one doesn’t want to pay a licence, the SABC must be satisfied that one has no television receiving equipment in one’s possession because such equipment has either been disposed of or denatured.

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