This is the official list of how much a TV licence costs in South Africa. The yearly fee is R265 ($22), and children under 15 can get one for free with no proof of residence required. You need a TV licence to watch live TV or recorded shows from any channel, whether you’re at home—even if it’s through an online service like Netflix or Hulu.
Exemptions
- You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch TV on your PC.
- You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch TV on your mobile phone.
- You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch TV on your tablet.
Criminal Offences
- You can be fined or imprisoned for not paying your licence.
- You can be fined or imprisoned for not having a TV licence.
How much do you have to pay for a tv license every year?
You’ll have to pay R265 every year.
You can pay your TV Licence fee in one of the following ways:
- At any South African Post Office. Post Office will accept payments during the following times: Monday—Friday, 09h00 – 16h00 and Saturdays, 08h30 – 13h00.
- By phone, through a secure payment gateway by calling 0861 922 868 or 0861 921 555 (24/7) from anywhere in South Africa.
The cost is R265 per annum for a colour television receiver and R60 per annum for a black-and-white television receiver. If you use your TV mainly to watch free-to-air channels (e.g., SABC 1 and 2), you must still buy a valid licence even if all you do with it is watch free-to-air programs on those channels only.*
A valid licence covers all members of your household who live at that address where the TV is located.
You can apply for an exemption from paying if certain conditions apply to you, such as being blind or disabled.
All viewers must pay their licence fees without exception. However, parents may request an exemption on behalf of their children under 18 years old but only when one parent has given written permission (on official letterhead) stating that they’re willing to take responsibility for ensuring payment of the child’s tv license fee each month throughout their childhood years until they turn 18 years old when they should then be responsible themselves.
