Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has criticized government departments for failing to pay their television licence fees to the SABC, asserting that this negligence undermines public broadcasting in South Africa. In a statement, Malatsi revealed he has reached out to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, requesting urgent action to address the issue of outstanding payments from several government entities.
“The SABC relies on TV licence fees as a key revenue source to fund its operations,” Malatsi emphasized, noting that national and provincial governments, along with municipalities, collectively owe the broadcaster more than R30 million in unpaid fees.
In the 2023 financial year, the SABC reported that only 16% of its revenue came from TV licences, with the majority (57%) generated through advertising. Despite invoicing television owners for R4.7 billion in licence fees, just 19% complied, contributing only R741 million to the SABC’s finances. The situation has deteriorated further, with non-compliance rates rising to 86% from 84% the previous year.
Malatsi insisted that government must set a high standard for compliance with legal and financial responsibilities. “By ensuring timely payment of TV licences, government departments can help bolster the financial health of the public broadcaster,” he stated, deeming the culture of non-payment for public services unacceptable.
He underscored the importance of providing the SABC with the necessary resources to fulfill its mandate while a more sustainable funding model is being developed. “This will assist in transitioning towards a financially viable SABC, critical for delivering quality public broadcasting services to all South Africans.”