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AfriForum Demands Scrapping of TV Licences Amidst State Non-Payment

Published October 24, 2024
18 days ago

In a remarkable turn of events, AfriForum has shone the spotlight on the failure of the TV licence fee system in South Africa with revelations of the state being one of its worst defaulters. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reportedly faces R35 million in unpaid fees from various state departments, symbolising a troubling lack of confidence in the current funding model for the public broadcaster.





Earlier this year, AfriForum, the civil rights organization, had advocated for the SABC's privatisation as a measure to save the broadcaster from its protracted financial struggles. This proposition took centre stage again during a parliamentary presentation in September on the South African Broadcasting Corporation Bill. The group persists in its stance that privatisation remains the viable path forward, aiming to salvage the financial sustainability of the SABC.




Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, stresses that the significant increases in TV licence evasion rates — spiking from 72% in 2018 to an unprecedented 85.8% in 2023 — are indicative of a broader disapproval of the licence system, one that the state itself now seems to echo by withholding payments. This defiance appears to reflect a combined lack of belief in the model's feasibility and perhaps, a silent protest from the consumer's side.


The call from AfriForum arrives at a critical juncture for the SABC, which continues to suffer under what the organization deems an outdated and inefficient state-centred model. It suggests that clinging to the obsolete mechanism of TV licence fees is serving to exacerbate the corporation's struggle for relevance and fiscal strength in an era of rapidly evolving content consumption habits.


Fundamentally, AfriForum argues that the SABC must shift from its traditional financing and operating model to avert a complete collapse. Privatisation, in their view, could forge a path to renewal by rebuilding viewer trust and redefining the broadcaster's position in the digital age. As the public broadcaster contemplates its future, it becomes apparent that transformative measures will be necessary to stay afloat in an increasingly competitive and diversified media landscape.


The state's apparent reluctance to fulfil its own TV licence payment obligations has undoubtedly shed light on systemic issues within the SABC. This discussion opens up broader thematic considerations around public broadcasting, accountability, and the search for more sustainable revenue models.


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