SABC warns mense of TV licence scam

THE South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has warned mense to be wary of a TV licence inspector scam.

The SABC were responding to social media posts regarding individuals who have allegedly been boefing mense by impersonating SABC TV licence inspectors.

These individuals are reportedly attempting to gain access to homes under pretenses to commit robberies.

The national broadcaster said in a statement: “The SABC wishes to remind the public that it has not appointed any inspectors or officials to conduct physical inspections of television sets in households.”

The public is strongly urged to report immediately to the police any person claiming to be an SABC representative or agent who attempts to enter a home or premises. Such individuals are not affiliated with or acting on behalf of the SABC.

The SABC communicates with TV Licence holders exclusively through secure and official channels. Door-to-door inspections are not a part of these established communication processes.

Last year, the SABC reported that less than 20% of South African households are paying their TV licence fees.

The public broadcaster shared this information while briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), during a session focused on its audit outcomes and financial performance.

SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli told the committee that the cost of delivering the public broadcasting mandate remains significantly underfunded, forcing the organisation to rely heavily on commercial revenue.

She pointed out that less than 20 percent of households in South Africa are paying for TV licenses, a situation that has led to a steady decline in funding for the public broadcaster.

Chabeli said: “55 percent of our mandate costs are funded, and they are funded by declining license fees, so in South Africa, less than 20  percent of households that should be paying for a TV license actually pay for a TV license.

“Unlike globally, in the BBC, for example, where you have more than 80 percent compliance, at the SABC, in terms of our commercial structure, 83 percent of our revenue comes from commercial activities and 13 percent of our revenue comes from TV Licenses, and that money keeps on declining year on year.”