South Africa’s plans to replace its TV licence system remain several years from implementation, with the government targeting March 2027 for a revised sustainable funding model for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Communications Minister Solly Malatsi, responding to a parliamentary question, said the final SABC Bill is expected to be submitted to Parliament between April 2027 and March 2028, placing any legislative replacement for the current system further down the line.
The financial pressures driving the reform remain significant. Only 15% of TV licence holders paid in the 2024/25 financial year, while the SABC recorded R22.8 billion in lost revenue over the six years to 2024/25. The broadcaster has been allocated R728.8 million under the current three-year spending framework. However, its request for additional funding for signal distribution was declined, with the SABC instructed not to include the funding in its budget. Meanwhile, a gamification pilot on SABC+ designed to encourage licence payments cost R2.5 million.
For public broadcasters across Africa, South Africa’s approach highlights the challenges of establishing sustainable funding models for public service media. The government’s sequencing places the development of a new funding framework ahead of the legislative process, leaving the question of how public broadcasting will be financed unresolved as the country moves towards 2027.
The decision not to provide separate funding for signal distribution also raises questions about how the SABC will manage the costs of maintaining terrestrial transmission infrastructure while continuing to fulfil its public service mandate. With the funding model still under development and legislation yet to reach Parliament, the transition away from TV licences is likely to remain a key issue for South Africa’s broadcasting sector over the coming years.
