If you live in South Africa, you are legally obligated to pay your television licence (also referred to as a TV tax). If you cannot do so, the penalty could cost you around 1000 South African Rands – more than $100 USD! This article will go over where and how you can pay for your television licence in South Africa, as well as address some myths surrounding this law.
The History of TV Licences
TV licences were first introduced in the UK in 1946 and have gone through several changes since then. Originally, a TV licence cost £2, which was a significant amount at the time. The maximum fine for not having a TV licence is currently £1000, but this penalty has only been enforced in recent years. From April 1st of this year, all households in the UK are required to buy a TV licence if they want to watch or record live television on any channel or device.
How Do I Know if I Need a TV License?
If you watch or record live TV programs on any device, the following applies:
– If you are watching TV in your country of residence (e.g. if you are in the UK) and receive a broadcast that originates from another country (e.g. the US), you do not need to pay a TV licence fee as long as you watch it within 7 days after it is broadcast.
Where to buy your TV License in South Africa?
There are a few different ways to buy your TV licence in South Africa. Firstly, you can go to the TV licence website and purchase a temporary license for 12 months. This is great if you’re only planning on watching television for one month, or if you’re in between renewals and need to watch television for a few weeks. Secondly, if you want something more permanent, there is the option of buying a lifetime license that will give you unlimited access to television programming for as long as you own it.
