Renew TV licence | South African Government (2024)

FAQs

Renew TV licence | South African Government? ›

You can renew your TV licence online, at your nearest Post Office, or at any of the SABC's regional offices and paypoints. A TV licence is renewable once every year. Organisations, including businesses, need a TV licence for each set in their possession.

On this website you can:

Renew your TV Licence. View your TV Licence. Update your contact details. Change the address on your TV Licence.

You may now also pay online now by using your credit card, or online at your own banking website using the TV Licences account details, or go to the EasyPay website for virtual peace of mind. But just in case you would rather pay in person, there are many options of where to pay.

Public schools are the ONLY educational institutions exempted from the legal requirement of having a television licence. Private schools, universities and other tertiary educational institutions, hospitals, old age or frail-care homes, charities and churches or religious organisations are NOT exempted.

South Africans are required by law, through section 27 of the Broadcasting Act, to pay for a TV licence – a TV license being a piece of paper issued by the state, which makes it legal to use/possess your television set at home.

You cannot go to prison for simply not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine. But if you fail to pay the fine for not having a TV licence, the court can take further action. They can send bailiffs or sheriff officers to your home.

We'll spread the cost of your first Direct Debit licence over six months, at around £28.25 a month. From then on you'll pay around £14.12 a month. We'll take four payments throughout the year.

If you are watching a TV programme live on Netflix, you need to be covered by a TV Licence. You don't need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes on Netflix.

You can find your TV licence number on your current licence or any emails or letters we've sent you. If you're using your Customer number, this can also be found on your payment card. Pay for your TV Licence with a Direct Debit? Some banks include your licence number alongside payments on your statement.

How to avoid paying TV Licence? ›

You don't need a TV Licence if you never watch live on any channel, pay TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer*. This includes recording and downloading. On any device. Or let us know you don't need a TV Licence.

With our new SMS balance enquiry function; you can now get your TV Licence balance conveniently on your cell phone. SMS your ID number or TV Licence number to 44210 and voila! 44210. Standard sms rates apply.

Households need only one licence for all TV sets in the house, provided that they all belong to the same owner. Renewal dates are spread over 12 months. The renewal month is determined by the first letter of your surname or, alternatively, by the month in which you bought your television set.

Monthly payments are subject to a small administration fee for the convenience. The total cost is therefore R265 per year.

You can make payments by cash or debit card at any PayPoint store using the barcode printed on any of the letters we've recently sent you. You will be issued with a receipt as proof of payment, which you should keep with your licence. You can find your nearest PayPoint store at PayPoint locator.

Call us on 0300 790 6165* or pay online. Or, you can pay smaller amounts by debit or credit card if you apply for a TV Licensing payment card. You can use this card to pay weekly or monthly at any PayPoint, over the phone, by text or online.

If you are watching a TV programme live on Netflix, you need to be covered by a TV Licence. You don't need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes on Netflix. What is Freely and do I need a TV Licence to use it? Freely is the newest way to stream live and on demand TV, all in one place.

Like your gas, phone, or council tax payments, your TV Licence can be accessed online whenever you need it. You don't actually need a paper copy. 90% of new online customers choose not to receive a paper copy. So why not join them?

We may then email you other messages regarding your TV Licence including reminders that your licence is about to expire. If you would prefer to receive these messages by post rather than email you can change this via one of the methods set out under 'What if I want to change the way I'm receiving my TV Licence' below.

You can find your TV licence number on your current licence or any emails or letters we've sent you. If you're using your Customer number, this can also be found on your payment card. Pay for your TV Licence with a Direct Debit? Some banks include your licence number alongside payments on your statement.