By law, you cannot buy a television without a valid TV licence in South Africa, but there are other devices that do not require a licence.
In South Africa, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is in charge of regulations regarding TV licences. The law requires you to have a TV licence in order to buy a television in the country, but there are ways around this.
About television licences in South Africa
In South Africa, television (TV) licences are regulated by the SABC, as set out by the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999.
There are many types of television licences, but the most common type is the domestic licence, which was always known as the private licence and the concessionary domestic licence. The domestic licence is the general licence that most people use in their homes and is valid for household use by an individual or group at a registered residential location.
How to buy a TV without a TV licence
These regulations state that every customer who buys a television set or any appliance with a built-in TV must have a valid TV licence. This means that stores that sell television sets need to check your TV licence before they can sell you the television set, and you will have to pay any outstanding or late fees on your licence before the television purchase can be released to you. This includes online stores.
The law also states that any household that owns a television set must have a valid TV licence, which has been paid up at all times. In this case, any device that includes a TV tuner can be considered a television and will necessitate a licence.
However, a way around these laws can be that devices without a TV tuner will not require a TV licence, and you will not have to worry about other factors concerning these licences.
Devices that do not require a TV licence
Since the law only classifies devices with a TV tuner as a television, there are ways to get around this and watch some of your favourite shows on a different device. Some of the most popular devices for which you are not required to apply for and maintain a TV licence in South Africa include:
| Device | Reasoning |
| Monitors | Any monitor that has wireless connectivity can act as a makeshift “smart TV” and can connect to streaming platforms that will allow you to watch your favourite shows |
| Other devices such as phones, tablets, etc. | Mobile streaming applications such as Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime Video, and more allow you to watch some of your favourite shows even without a TV tuner |
As long as these devices do not include a TV tuner, you will be able to stream your favourite shows on them without the need for a TV licence.
Possible changes in the regulations
As a result of the prevalence of these streaming platforms and mobile applications, less and less South Africans are paying their TV licences or even see the need to renew or have TV licences in the first place.
The loss of income due to the decreased TV licence fees has prompted the SABC to propose new regulations, which would include a device-neutral household levy imposed on households across the country and would, then, also include traditional television sets and the modern streaming platforms.
However, these new regulations have not yet been imposed and the finer details of what exactly this household levy would cost and how it would be calculated is still to be determined.
Other considerations around TV licences
Until the new regulations come into effect, it is important to consider some factors surrounding the current TV licence system. Some of the most important factors are:
| Factor | Description |
| What is the price of a TV licence? | R265 per year for a domestic, business, dealer, lessor, or mobile television licence |
| Where can a licence be purchased? | At your nearest post office or at a retailer authorised to issue TV licences |
| How many TV licences do you need? | One TV licence is required per household, if all owned televisions are being used at that location |
Final thoughts
There are a few regulations that govern how and when you can buy a television in South Africa. This includes the fact that you cannot buy a television without a TV licence. However, there are other devices that could work, though with new regulations planned and various other factors to consider.
