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Cypro Mailula

South Africa
News24 User

Milking the public?

by Cypro Mailula
2009-07-07 10:16

Dear Editor,

I never understood the technicalities and the legal justification as to why SABC is entitled to collect licence fees for me owning a television set, nevertheless I accepted and let it slide as a law in our country.

But now I got worried and perplexed on reading an article on the SABC's plans to attempt harder to milk the public in order to collect more revenue.

Apparently the SABC wants to charge a licence fee for mobile television, generate income by getting its hands and managing Multichoice's database of clients not paying SABC licences or letting Multichoice collect licence fees on its behalf.

As a Multichoice customer, I would not want SABC having anything to do with my DStv account. As far as I'm concerned I have an agreement with Multichoice, not SABC.

It does not make sense to me that I have to pay an SABC TV licence even though I have no interest in watching SABC, why should I be paying a fee to keep the SABC running whereas it doesn't serve any of my interests. For me, it's no different to paying a landline connection fee simply because I use a cellphone.

I can imagine that some people might accuse me of bashing SABC because I can afford to pay for DStv but it is my choice not to watch SABC, not only because there is hardly anything worth watching but because I will only pay for a service I requested.

If a TV licence is an operating permit for a television set, shouldn't the license be collected by an independent body from the public broadcaster? This would make sense regardless of whether one watches SABC, eTV or DStv. As already stated I do not know the legal reasoning for a TV licence but perhaps this regulation needs to be revisited, it seems this was legislated many ages ago when there was no other television service available and the public broadcaster was entitled to every television right. We cannot be held hostage by the public broadcaster to pay TV licence thou we have no interest or use for SABC.

I would not mind paying a TV licence if it's required to own a TV set but I do mind being forced to pay an SABC TV license while I do not watch SABC, if anything they should consider taking off their service for people who do not wish to pay for SABC.

Cypro Mailula

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Alien Dude 7/7/2009 10:26:32 AM
How else are the anc idiots who have run it into the ground mean't to have thier parties ?

RVD 7/7/2009 10:27:40 AM
We should be able to choose to pay for DSTV or SABC

marcel 7/7/2009 10:30:27 AM
See I hear what you saying, but to not make this seem like an anti-SABC rant you have to include Multichoice. I'm pretty sure you don't watch every single channel they offer, so why not complain about them charging you for a service you're not using? I agree with what you saying, just don't get selective - if you don't wanna pay your TV license, ask DSTV if you can pay them less too, cos you don't use all their channels. People love to think DSTV is wonderful - it sucks actually, but what can we do? I wanna watch sport, so have to pay for all the other rubbish.

Henk 7/7/2009 10:32:08 AM
You pay a television license for ownership of the analogue tuner inside your set. This is law, and the SABC is mandated to collect those fees by law. When next you buy a TV, ask the salesperson for one without a tuner, also called a monitor (this isn't a computer monitor, its just called a monitor if it can't receive analogue signals). And then you plug it into your DStv decoder and you are not obligated to pay a cent towards the SABC. Just make sure you skip the tuner and Bob's your uncle.

Gogirl 7/7/2009 10:34:02 AM
I agree - SABC has nothing to offer me. Why should I pay them? I will ladly pay for a service I use (like any other service), but cannot understand the need to pay for a service I do not want or use. As far as I am concerned SABC can shut down.

Sinudeity@Gmail.com 7/7/2009 10:34:13 AM
Yeah, the SABC, wants me to play license fee's, when I STREAM a digital video, over my cellphone. I havent owned a TV in 5 years. I chose a DSL connection over a DST connection, so, I download all my TV shows, no adds, no ANC propaganda, and no CRAP TV.

Koos 7/7/2009 10:34:32 AM
Well said! On their website the SABC says that by paying your TV Licence you enable them to bring you "world class entertainment". What a joke! Just more money for them to waste. I refuse to pay my licence this year and I again urge everyone to join me. We have to make a stand and say: "Enough is enough!"

Dean Sassmann 7/7/2009 10:37:03 AM
Here is a list of things the SABC can do to ensure they survive into the future and without increasing the fees to save their bacon.

1.Stop wasting money, do you really need to produce and newletter at a costs of R3.8million, stop wasteful spenditure.
2.Increase revenues generated from advertising, by ensuring your rates are competivtie , stop discounting advertising rates.
3.Improve your poor poor collections of your yearly TV licence fees, how, ensure your collections are done inhouse and not handed out to outside lawyers, add more efficent collection agents, and make examples of non payers , by naming and shaming them publically, and show this on TV, it will make people rush out to pay their TV, licence, example and case in point was the drivers fine system.
4.Improve your content with great shows that rival the best of channels like DSTV,learn from them.
5.Get individual shows sponsered by advertising products or companies.
6.Maybe if so how this could be worked in try and establish a channel for which people can pay for , like a DSTV type set up with really cheap charges.

I hope this will get the SABC board and hopefully they can turn it around, it easy guys stay positive and work on problems the rest will take care of its self.

Mark V 7/7/2009 10:37:03 AM
The problem in this country is the number of non-paying TV owners. If all were to pay we would not have had the situation we are currently in. Municipalities having to write off debt at the cost of the paying customer. Increasing license fees because the other 10 million odd refuse to pay. I wish all institutions would stop thinking along political lines and start implementing laws. No payment - no service. I am not referring to the poorest of the poor, but to those who claim to be poor.

Mzi 7/7/2009 10:41:18 AM
Read this you coconut, A television licence is an official licence required for the reception of television broadcasts. It is a form of funding public broadcasting. That's the reason it's called TV licence not SABC licence, please apply your mind before pissing such nonsense. If you are able to pay your taxes without questioning SARS then you need do as well with tv licences. your reasoning is one of a five year old, we all own DSTVs, dstv is a privilege while SABC is a basic need for the less privileged. you are one of the lost generation that were not built from the structures of the poor, we grew up watching SABC and its programmes exposed everything you know about this country and now you think multichoice is heaven. SABC covered (and still) the most accurate and fair journalism all over africa.

IandI 7/7/2009 10:42:15 AM
Pay your SABC licence fee, watch all the propaganda and soapies, be brainwashed, it's the right thing to do! Say thanks to the SABC for scr@wing the public!

onke 7/7/2009 10:42:51 AM
100 % SABC sucks BIG TIME

Juan 7/7/2009 10:43:21 AM
The sabc should ask THEMSELVES: Why are people PREPARED to pay R400 per month for DSTV and NOT prepared to pay the cheap sabc license... Could it be because their programming is WORSE than a test pattern?

Cliff Bradley 7/7/2009 10:48:02 AM
Under The Old Gov It Was Not To Bad As Licence Fees Were Reasonable And Shows Were Good But Since 1994 - Shoo

SimonP 7/7/2009 10:50:11 AM
Any restructuring of the license fee is SABC trying to generate more income to cover their incompetent management. If anything the license fee should be peggged to SABCs financial performance, ie it should be free. When the next board perform then the public should start paying. SABC should be privatised run properly and profitably.

Spiderman 7/7/2009 10:51:20 AM
It is just another way of government collecting your money. How they dress or call it is their prerogative, but pay you will pay! I suppose they can call it "airwave tax", "pigeon antenna tax", "light up the lounge tax" or whatever, they will find a way of getting their money out of you! At least everyone with a TV (theoretically) pays this, not only our "rich" DSTV guys. (Now I smell Mzi coming with his remarks!)

Ban!$t@rr 7/7/2009 10:53:46 AM
I also read the article and it's utter nonsense to be forced to pay for something we never use. I'm sure that 99.9% of DSTV Premium viewers never watch any SABC because we saw the light. Jokes aside, I don't see the need to be paying a licence for something I have no use for. I'd rather MCA cancel the "free to air" channels (read SABC and e-tv) because I do not watch them. Plus, wouldn't it be an invasion of privacy if they went through the MCA database so that they can try to extort the licence fee from us?
The only viable alternative is that they include some sort of "signal activation fee" into the purchace price of every TV (not monitors)as a once-off. That way we won't be having such debates.

Pal Mabelane 7/7/2009 10:53:52 AM
Cypro my friend...SABC=ANC, so you're gonna keep paying for the 2014 election campaign.

morena 7/7/2009 10:54:02 AM
agreed, better yet do away with SABC its useless

Mr Nopay 7/7/2009 10:54:30 AM
If you are paying you are crazy....it's the wrong thing to do!!! And rightly so, since the abuse of our hard earned monies are simply being pilfered by sloppy inept and self enriching corrupt management...

krrrrrrrrrrrr 7/7/2009 10:54:30 AM
stop complaining wena maan!!!

lore 7/7/2009 11:02:24 AM
Cypro Mailula Hooray you should be in parliment. this has been the argument for a lot of DSTV users.

Rubbish on TV 7/7/2009 11:02:30 AM
My husband and I stopped watching TV about 4 years ago, when we moved into our first home and couldn't get signal. We haven't looked back. Now, we simply buy the series' and movies we want to watch, and refer to News24 for any news updates that we need. SABC? DSTV? Multichoice? We'd rather choose for ourselves....

Bugs 7/7/2009 11:02:56 AM
I totally agree, what if you just using the tv for playing games and watching dvd's ?

TL 7/7/2009 11:04:43 AM
@ Author: You have a contract with Multichoice NOT SABC, so you are obligated to Multichoice not SABC. If Multichoice starts collecting revenue for SABC, terminate their contracts with you. Do you really think that Multichoice is willing to lose subscripers because of the falling titanic called SABC? I am not a licence fee payer & never will pay because I cannot pay for repeats. I have actually been taught at home that if I fail a subject at school, then my parents would not pay for my repeats. So you can call it a moral obligation

Poloyatonki 7/7/2009 11:05:20 AM
@Cypro Mailula – I really don’t understand your article, you don’t like SABC but why the “F” do you still have SABC channels on you Pre-Historic TV set?
SABC is gonna get back on its feet and you guys will be throwing away those Decoders soon…. Our gov is working on it..

Mark 7/7/2009 11:07:02 AM
It's very simple: I pay for services I want. Note the last word: WANT. When the SABC come up with something I WANT to watch on a regular basis, I will volunteraly subscribe. The SABC has an Expectant attitude, they EXPECT people to want to pay for little to no service. One channel is non stop soccer, the next is movies older than TCM network can dig up, and the third, well the third is alright, but only just. I'll pay for only the 3rd channel if it's an option I feel I'd like, it has a long way to go though. The other two channels are aimed at a different market segment and I am not paying for that.
The math is simple, create a service where people want to sacrifice thier hard earned money, or carry on supplying sub standard viewing and expect people to see it as yet another tax only a select few are paying because they are forced to, not WANT to. How about we sell SABC to Primedia? I'd rather pay the cost of an sms to hear the end of a joke, than throw money into a never ending pit where each board blames the last for thier inevitable faliure.
SABC, why should we pay for you to fail? Why must I give you MY money I worked hard for, so you can pretend you're important and have never ending pockets? Sell the SABC, put the board onto a performance based salary and be done with it.

mike 7/7/2009 11:14:45 AM
As far as I understand, the licence hinges on whether your tv has a tuner in it - they all do obv, but it is possible to remove it. In that case, it becomes the equivalent of a computer screen, unable to process broadcast TV. It is (was) possible to become exempt from paying the TV licence by certifying your tuner had been removed. I'm not sure, however, if this would work with DStv. If you plug DStv into one of the auxiliary inputs, you should still be able to watch, and only pay one fee, and do so legally.
I don't have a tv, but did investigate tv licencing a while back. Maybe someone else has done this, and can comment...
Plus you'd still get SABC and e through the satellite feed (just in case "you're gonna be on tv"!)

Sparky! 7/7/2009 11:15:08 AM
I agree 100% with u! i do not have DSTV - but i am in 2 minds about paying my licence this year - as there is absolute crap on SABC except maby for Survivor! and after all the crap that has been in the news about the greedy bastards in management and how they have basically destoyed the SABC - i say we all boycot them! They are greedy bastards and deserve sweet f*ck all from the public! I hope their staff do go ahead with their protests and have a full on black out!!

David 7/7/2009 11:16:22 AM
If the SABC was a private company it would have been liquidated long ago. Personally i think they should just close it down. The other debacle surrounding the SABC is its collection process. Before i got married i had a tv, my fiance had a tv. We have battled for years to only pay for one household and still not got it right....flip

Halfwise 7/7/2009 11:16:34 AM
SABC is cheaper than DSTV and it also gives us an african feeling when watching it. Considering the fact that it covers all our cultural diversities. And the more good news is that soon its gonna have new leadership with fresh minds. So you rich boys think the poor watches crap. SABC stood firm in most occasions (Zapiro trying to air his stupid documentary on SABC3)

Adrian 7/7/2009 11:17:22 AM
Spot on brother. SABC shows crap, unfortunately some of us have to watch so we have to pay those fools. You right about not paying for something you dont want. I hope Multichoice tells them where to get off regarding collection of licence fees. They must do their own dirty work.

Pieter 7/7/2009 11:17:34 AM
Totally agree. Just another govt rip off that was never thought through.

UV 7/7/2009 11:21:23 AM
I agree 100%! I also decided to go the Multichoice route, reason being the crap we had to put up with on the SABC channels. Most countries do not have the "required licence" system as all costs are covered by the ad companies' fees paid for advertising...and still we just put up with this "do the right thing"!!! This kind of B.S. is going to be the death of this country ! Why not do a trip through most townships/rural areas & get the ones that are all wathching SABC tv WITHOUT a licence! I'm already paying to watch decent programmes...get your money elsewhere !

Fedup 7/7/2009 11:24:50 AM
SABC, Eskom, UIF, what's the difference? - just the furniture, same mentality. I only watch 3 to 4 SABC programs while paying full TV licence just to be annoyed with a regular popup telling me to use electricity sparingly (as if I don't do so already), blocking subtitles, etc. Is it just me or do others also find the Eskom popup annoying and harassing?

Noni 7/7/2009 11:25:35 AM
I totally agree with you. Even with Dstv, I think that they should introduce pay per channel, because I am sure there are people out there, like me, who do not watch everything that DSTV has to offer. They should make the service more customisable, then they can see which channels actually make money and which dont.

k_m 7/7/2009 11:26:44 AM
Its the wrong thing to do.

radio man 7/7/2009 11:28:10 AM
u are also paying for radio when you pay your sabc license fee. and who can say they NEVER listen to the radio whilst driving?

CTheB 7/7/2009 11:28:35 AM
It would take a great fool to say you're bashing the SABC because you can afford DSTV.

Phila 7/7/2009 11:29:10 AM
I refuse to pay for TV License. It is not worth it given the substandard programming they offer to the public

Phehello 7/7/2009 11:34:16 AM
I also feel cheated for paying TV Licence for such poor programmes on SABC. SABC is finished, thanks to cadre deployment!!!!

Sinudeity @Mzi 7/7/2009 11:35:39 AM
LOL!!! You mean, Mzi, forces ANC propaganda down your throat. "SABC is accurate" LOL, thats funny.

Sinudeity @Poloyatonki 7/7/2009 11:38:05 AM
ROFLOL, you wish Polo. The Mbeki, ANC friendly boarded, screwed up SABC beyond all repair. The only TV shows they air nowadays, are shows that only YOU will watch (Because its stupid).

MM 7/7/2009 11:38:11 AM
Halfwise - your name sums you up perfectly.
Poloyatonki - "Throwing away decoders soon", maybe when pigs fly.

Sinudeity @Poloyatonki 7/7/2009 11:38:40 AM
"Our government is working on it" - Great, so in 300 years time.

jajaja 7/7/2009 11:40:19 AM
There is no choice with SARS (you don't pay taxes, they take them from your salary!) or SABC(you don't pay, the lawyers will come for you!). So much for freedom of choice...

Sinudeity @Halfwise 7/7/2009 11:40:36 AM
Halfwise, you and Polo, can continue watching the CRAP they play on SABC. The shows are meant for IDIOTS anyways. I couldn't make it through all the ANC propaganda.

Poloyatonki 7/7/2009 11:41:46 AM
@Cypro Mailula - Tell me one thing COCONUT, when was the last time you watched SABC or the last time you checked if your balls are still there.... we get fair journalism from SABC in this conutry....

Off topic 7/7/2009 11:41:49 AM
What is the financial situation of e-tv? How can they survive without license fees, but the SABC can't? For all the pro SABC/ANC guys, this is a rhetorical question, you don't need to answer.

AC @ Poliodonkey 11:05 7/7/2009 11:43:19 AM
You are either the world's biggest optimist or the biggest fool. Looking at your post, personally, I go with the fool theory. @Halfwise, at least you bring up rich and poor this time - not colour. Good for you. Now go find something else to do you chop.

@Sammie @Polo 7/7/2009 11:48:05 AM
LOL, you guys dont even pay tv licenses, or electricity. What right do you have to comment on financial issues?

anon 7/7/2009 11:49:09 AM
I fully agree, but I guess that SABC would use the excuse that their service is free to air on the DSTV chasnnels. I have had a discussion with Multichoice, to have the SABC channels removed from my payTV, and they say it can not be done. Whether this is an excuse or not, I do not know. Some comment towards that would be good.

Eles 7/7/2009 11:51:02 AM
I object to paying for a tv license when the SABC shows such drivel and i most certainly don't watch it, what am I paying for incompetent management new office deco? No value for money but it is a mission to cancel. Quite frankly if they were any good at producing local tv shows they would be able to sell it to others like the BBC and generate funds. I say that they should close down shop and allow those people without dstv accounts to access etv as if they weren't paying for their license they aren't entitled to watch anyway and it is the free channel? Why should some pay and others not they can get the cheap dstv bouquet package!

I 7/7/2009 11:54:01 AM
I agree, there is nothing good on SABC except maybe Erfsondes, which is finishing tonight. However, I had DStv for 2 years, and paying R500 per month for that, is also a load of BS. Within 2-3 months, you have seen everything you wanted to see and programmes are repeated on different channels for months to come. Everything on History move to Crime & Investigation etc. Rather pay Mnet R270 per month and you can watch decent shows - so many your eyes will go square. On Mnet the newest shows are just 1 month behind America. MNet is the only way to go!

Adrian 7/7/2009 11:55:56 AM
@radio man- so should we pay a radio licence as well @ss hole?

mia 7/7/2009 12:00:12 PM
Hah,I refuse to pay my tv license. I really don't care whether I owe it to the SABC or not.What're they going to do? Make me? I think not.

giddo 7/7/2009 12:01:20 PM
You have to pay so that they can party..can anybody name one public enterprise that was not run into the ground. the list is endless.

Halfwise 7/7/2009 12:04:40 PM
I always pay my TV license, SABC must blacklist those who refuses to pay it!!!!

Tax man 7/7/2009 12:04:42 PM
@Mzi-why dont you give me your details so i can check if your taxes are up to date. i doubt they are, because all ANC members taxes are not.

Ivan 7/7/2009 12:05:29 PM
Cypro, we all feel the same way. Ok well maybe not Poloyatosser and halftwat and the rest ofthe ANC die harders. This is how the ANC addresses THEIR mistakes, they throw someone elses money at it, in the hopes of the problem going away. If they take your and my money to resolve their problems, they dont care, if you question their intent and methods you are automatically a racist, counter revolutionaries with subversive intent, irrespective of colour (which may make you a coconut). To that end they quickly promulgate a law about it so that they can prosecute you for not helping them clean up their mess. Simple aint it. VIVA MY ANC VIVA, VIVA MY FUTURE DOWN THE TOILET VIVA.

Anapple 7/7/2009 12:06:01 PM
@Marcel, do u have DSTV?! With Dstv you are almost guaranteed to get to watch something new everynight. Because i've seen all the movies before they come on DSTV i usually do not find a movie that i can watch but am always able to find something else of interest on the Discovery, History, Crime, Home, Entertainment, etc channels! I am therefor paying for entertainment on a nightly basis. I no longer go out during the week since(almost)middle age and also too much crime and other shyt to worry about so am quite happy paying for DSTV in place of other weekly entertaiment. I tape late night series(pvr)as i still have to get up early for work. These i watch when i can or when my husband is hogging the sports channels! R550 per month is worth it for 4 weeks entertainment and learning!!!

Wisdom @ PoloyPetrol 7/7/2009 12:06:01 PM
Yes buddy, our goverment has been working on it for 15 years! It takes a bit long don't you think...

Deon 7/7/2009 12:06:09 PM
I also don't like paying the SABC but it isn't only for television. You pay the license for all broadcasting e.g. if you listen to the radio, obviously SABC 1, 2, 3 and E-TV. Another example, any DJ playing music at a wedding needs a license to play music, also all shops/malls/businesses playing music inside their store or building must have a license to do so. I don't like it but they must get the money from somewhere. Also R225 per year...come on = R18,75 per month - even if it's only to listen to the radio it's still cheap.

Ivan @ Halftwat 7/7/2009 12:08:17 PM
Halfpr!(k, you live in Africa, how much more of an African feeling do you need to feel and be African, you moron. Simple I guess you need someone/something African other than yourself to make you feel african. what a twat.

M 7/7/2009 12:08:30 PM
No service - no payment : Yes it is a TV license and not a SABC license, but tell me, for what is it used, that I benefit from? I must be able to chose what I watch and then pay for that. The govt just needs money thats all. Did they ever send license inspectors into the townships? Oh wait, they are racists and only target the "others". And I will not support racists or their agendas or institutions that implement racist laws. Because then they become regimes and they are no better than the previous regime.

M 7/7/2009 12:11:32 PM
@Halfwise: Sorry, SABC contents is rubbish. Nothing to actual increase the mental capacity of those sitting at home all day, absolutely nothing. Man, that would be the ideal place to educate people, show the about science and nature and how to work with money, but do we ever get to see things like that? No. Just propaganda and utter rubbish. No wonder the uneducated aren't moving out of the dark ages.

Louis 7/7/2009 12:16:02 PM
Techically it is a public braodcasdt license. Practically only televisions are managed through the licensing system. The fee forms part of the funds for the SABC to deliver on its mandate as public broadcaster. The fact that they are useless is a seperate issue. What is lacking is the accountability to be independent and effective. In other words to not be the ruling party's puppet and to deliver against their mandate. Providing quality programs allows them to generate advertising revenue to fund themselves. Your objections must be directed to parliament. If you do not like what the SABC is doing, vote for another party. My sympathy is with the employees of the SABC who need to make things work within this circus. It would serve all of us much better if the waste of money through SAA, SABC, etc are curbed and te money used to bail them out used for delivering social services. Instead of just taking more tax money rather utilise it more efficiently.

Phillip 7/7/2009 12:19:14 PM
Why should we pay for a sistem that is obviously not working. The best solution would be for the SABC to change to a Pre Paid system. But they probibly know that they will close down then. Because they dont have quality shows.

Frank aai Mzi 7/7/2009 12:20:48 PM
I don’t give a damn about poor peoples entertainment Mzi, I care about the under privileged;s health, hunger and shelter. The only reason the government is saving the SABC is to further line their own pockets and have a propagandist mouthpiece. I question my tax and how it is being used because I am not a ANC brainwashed idiot, 89% of my tax is being filtered to the poor and 10% to the ANC cadres, and 1% back into the services that affect me

William 7/7/2009 12:21:07 PM
@Halfwise: Let us give them the benefit of the doubt. Just answer one question: if they fail again, will you change your opinion about parliament's ability to introduce a skilled board? SAA has had three CEOs who have cost the tax payers billions that could have gone to social services. Looking for funds for the NHI? Then let us not spend another cent on incompetence. But as I said; give the benefit. I do pay my license even if I do not watch SABC.

anon 7/7/2009 12:23:06 PM
I had a similar issue with the SABC, I asked the attorneys that contacted me regarding outstanding fees and they said it is because Multichoice is making use of the signals and towers which is the property of the SABC's. I don't know about that! I agree wholeheartedly with your column, and everything you mentioned in it. For the same reason I would need a stove and a microwave licence as well then! But we have to get used to it, SA is not a democracy, it's communist! And even if I was able to understand all 11 languages, I will still not pay a cent for the crap they have on offer!

Lithium 7/7/2009 12:24:27 PM
Australia did an audit a couple of years ago. They found out that it costed them more to run the TV licence department than what they made out of TV licences, so they abolished TV licences. Maybe we must do the same excersise.

Andrew 7/7/2009 12:27:00 PM
ummm...I have a tv card in my computer. Do I have to pay the TV licence fee?

DID YOU KNOW 7/7/2009 12:32:37 PM
LOL.. did you'll know that you'll can be black listed for not paying your TV license.. weird nah.. so rather pay it then rather instead of ruining your credit status.. (,").. try to make a arrangement for them to debit R20.00 a month off your salary.. BELIEVE me you'll won't feel it..

TC 7/7/2009 12:36:11 PM
I will never-ever pay a TV-License to the current SABC. I will feel that I betray everything I stand for.

Bboy 7/7/2009 12:36:13 PM
How about the tax I pay to build roads in the Western Cape – I have never been to the Cape and do not wish to go there. How stupid, then go to Zimbabwe – they do not pay TV license there.

Ian C 7/7/2009 12:37:27 PM
I'm afraid you have completely missed the point Marcel (7/7/2009 10:30:27 AM)
The point is you still CHOOSE to take the bad with the good because it is part of the service you have chosen to subscribe to - Your arguement would mean that I could buy a car and tell them I don't really think I'm going to use the brakes too much so I don't see why I need to pay for them - Its not an optional feature. However, I haven't agreed to wish to agree to terms with the SABC to watch their channels because I simply don't want their "car", period.

Craig Dennis 7/7/2009 12:38:16 PM
The SABC should be sold off or privatised. A TV license is just another form of tax, and trust me we all pay (rates etc) too much for the service levels we are getting. Turn off tune out, SABC is an embarassment to the Rainbow Nation.

Dean Sassmann 7/7/2009 12:38:47 PM
What would be nice to see is a poll or vote to see how many people really pay their TV licence. forthe record i do why becuase its the right thing to do!

Victor 7/7/2009 12:41:44 PM
SABC quality has been decreasing slowly over the past years. In the last few weeks things like sound having an audio feedback, audio volume suddenly increasing and sound and picture distortion. This is not the normal snow or signal reception problems I'm talking about but rather recording/transmission problems. With quality decreasing, should the fee not also decrease. Even more so if you look at the programs currently on SABC. Most of it re-runs. When last did anyone see a new movie. Now it's hero month. All the old hero movies. Bet Transformers I is not under those.

miekie 7/7/2009 12:42:44 PM
so, i have a question, if my tv is not even connected to the arial, if it doesnt even receive any signal, except from the dvd player...why do i need to buy a tv license?

Mnike 7/7/2009 12:46:27 PM
Cypro, I agree with you 101%. I don't see a need for paying SABC TV Licences and watch unnewsworthy things, and all that. They provide that service free to neighbouring countries like Lesotho, where there is no SABC TV License fees, neither Lesotho TV License fees. As for Marcel, for DSTV, you go to them and request their service, and they give you options to choose from. They don't impose fees on you, and if you get tired of their services, you just stop paying, then they stop their service. SABC must do the same, you don't pay, you don't get the services, xalas.

no 7/7/2009 12:47:01 PM
SABC is a basic need for the less privileged. <---No it isn't

Stu 7/7/2009 12:52:55 PM
It's extortion, plain and simple. You are forced to buy a TV licence before you may own a TV. That's rubbish. What if you need a TV for other audio visual requirements (DVD, Xbox/PS3/Wii gaming etc...). If they want to control viewing, fine. Then run it via cable, or scramble the signal and issue a decoder for paid up TV licence holders. I don't want to watch any of their rubbish, but I want a TV. It's should be my constitutional right to be able to own a TV, without being extorted.

jean 7/7/2009 12:53:06 PM
Poloyatonki: interesting comment, only problem is that if they produce something it will only be aimed at the black population. Like DSTV is also moving that way. So, in 5-10 yrs what will we have to watch on TV? There are other people in the country as well who have different tastes and backgrounds. A problem in SA is that one sector pays for everything and the other sector says gimmie, gimmie

Keith 7/7/2009 12:57:34 PM
I agree where the hell does all the money go from all the commercials on SABC that should be enough to get decent programs.At least with DSTV I get what I pay for what is going to happen when SABC goes digital then you are going to pay!!Let some one else collect fees

Jason 7/7/2009 12:58:05 PM
Unfortunately Henk is incorrect. I just had this battle with SABC and had to back pay 3 years of SABC TV license fees as I previously also understood that the law only related to a tuner. However the law now states any devise capable of receiving a video or audio signal, this includes your Multichoice decoder. Believe me I work in the television industry, thankfully not for SABC…

Palema 7/7/2009 12:58:36 PM
@Mzi Hey ZANU PF did we not request yesterday that you return to your Soil from wence you come - Zimboonland and reap the fruits of your reward? please return ASAP.Leave this subject to adults

M 7/7/2009 12:59:12 PM
@no: Especially if it doesn't help to increase their level of education. It takes an IQ of less than 100 to be satisfied by the SABC content. If they at least tried to educate people but no, they just want singing and dancing and soapies all they long.

wondering 7/7/2009 1:00:43 PM
so when we finally get digital transmission and I dont buy a sabc set top box can I stop paying a tv licence?

The Man 7/7/2009 1:01:51 PM
Mzi & Poliodonkey: Pleeeeeese You Think It Will Get Better , Never In Your Life ( Not While There Are Nitwits Running It)

Big mouth 7/7/2009 1:02:17 PM
Now all you big mouths who do not pay! Lets start a drive and not pay our TV licences due to stealers sitting at the top wanting to drive an AMG Merc or M series BMW's.

It is the only way we are going to make the ANC gov listen. Why do you think is SARS the only functional Gov Department?

Money is everything to them.

ned 7/7/2009 1:04:07 PM
I am 63 yrs of age, I pay my R250 per year licence to the SABC, BUT I am subject to watch rubbish in the early evening, ALL the shows I would like to watch are after 10, not to mention all the repeats, not even talking about the week-end movies.
So why am I paying?

M 7/7/2009 1:05:05 PM
@Lithium: And they don't steal money like our locals do. So imaging how ineffective the licensing dept in SA is! It's actually scary. So the right thing to do is to protest the fees and NOT PAY THEM. Viva to freedom of what I watch, VIVA!

BB 7/7/2009 1:08:09 PM
@MZI, it is actually the SABC TV license, why do you pay the SABC and not ICASA instead with your reasoning. DSTV should remove SABC from their bouquet and then we only pay for a real service. If you want SABC added, then Multichoioce can charge extra pay over the extra portion. SABC should be closed down completely. There is not 1 show worth watching on SABC.

Tina 7/7/2009 1:12:22 PM
SABC 1, 2, 3 & eTV are Multichoice (DSTV) as well. Don't you ever watch those channels? Not even the news? never? Come on, don't be hypocritical now!

graham 7/7/2009 1:14:32 PM
What did the ANC pay you sprout such crap Mzi?

Bonny 7/7/2009 1:15:44 PM
Agree totally with your letter. Such a pity that we do not actually live in a democratic country where the leaders have the good of the country at heart. We should privatize all these money wasting departments.
@ radiohead..I do not ever listen to the radio in my car..I have far better stuff on my iPod.

Good Payer 7/7/2009 1:16:18 PM
I've ALWAYS paid my TV license but 7 years ago my mother moved in with us and we cancelled her TV license. Now - 7 years later I have to sign affidavits to PROVE that she hasn't had a TV. Well SABC - I think you should prove that she didn't. Stop harassing a 76 year old!! Yes I still pay, it's sort of indoctrinated in me. But I don't watch it - ever.

WHITEY 7/7/2009 1:17:35 PM
ON MY TV, I REMOVED THE TURNER AND IAM STILL ABLE TO CONNECT DSTV. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO SO THAT I CAN STOP PAYING FOR THE LICENCE

Olivia 7/7/2009 1:25:24 PM
SABC programming might be bad, but compared to that Africa Magic channel on DSTV it is world class. There are a lot of local dramas on SABC that are much much better than the crap on that channel

Nuke 7/7/2009 1:26:31 PM
@anon The SABC DO NOT own the towers and stuff they transmit the signal to you... It forms part of our telecoms, i.e. Telkom, etc. is looking after it... Even their lawyers don't know what is going on in their business. And, after 4 years I'm still not on the blacklist for not paying...

Carrol Beattie 7/7/2009 1:26:59 PM
I totally agree and I cannot tell you when last I watched any SABC or etv channels. DSTV is my channel of choice and pay for it.

BEV 7/7/2009 1:32:33 PM
@Henk. Is it possible to have the turner removed and how. I just want a monitor to watch dvd's.

BEV 7/7/2009 1:35:57 PM
@Whitey. Email the SABC TV licence company and they will give you a list of the things that they need to cancel your licence. I did and they sent me the requirements.

Markkie 7/7/2009 1:52:13 PM
I love SABC , err um , ETV , um , OK ETV on weekend's , late at night ;-) . Actually come to think of it , watching 15 year old wanna be soft porn movies is quite crappy . Now if they could show 1 nite in Paris I'd pay the the license .

joke aside , SABC SUCKS ( like Paris , sorry couldn't resist )

Anapple 7/7/2009 1:54:23 PM
@Goodpayer, hi, i have also always paid my tv licence but when i got married 10 years ago i wrote Sabc a letter advising that my husband has a tv licence. My husband kept paying his t/v licence (applied for after his divorce) but when we went to buy a new television, his licence number could not be located, we had never actually received the plastic card and had always used the previous receipt at the post office when re-newing. We now discovered that the payments were being transferred to his ex-wifes licence number at his old residence, what a mess up!! They wanted copies of the receipts, copies of my letter, affidavits etc etc! The receipts from the post office were printed on that waxy fax paper and are now blank (printing worn off)and i cant find the letter i wrote TEN years ago so about two years ago after numerous phone calls, i just gave up!!! Couldn't do it any more, just stopped paying! Have had DSTV for many years now, never watch SABC but wanted to do the right thing, SABC just couln't cope with 'the right thing to do!'

Lali 7/7/2009 1:54:30 PM
heard this before. Cypros, you probabbly have just acquired your DSTV and you think its something special. Wait until two to three months and you'll see how boring DSTV can be.For me paying a licence fee once a year is better than paying a monthly fee of R499.00 for the countless repeat programmes DSTV bombards me with everday. I mean DSTV can play the same movie 31 times in a month.... so is this value for money? If it wasnt for the sports channels, i wouldnt be keep that DSTV shit in my house.

Tumelo 7/7/2009 1:59:07 PM
Idiots, its a TV licence and not an SABC licence. Its like a car licence.Even if you dont use the N1 or M2 you still have to renew it.Gun licence, even if you dont occassionally mistaken a blackman for a monkey and shoot. You still have to have one!

Mzi 7/7/2009 1:59:42 PM
maybe I should mobilise the ANCYL, YCL to buy shares at multichoice. It will be a good idea, the poor also deserve world class news and entertainment. It is only a matter of time we turn this country into a full and functional communist.

Annoyed 7/7/2009 2:01:00 PM
Mzi are you a complete idiot? Comparing paying SARS to paying a TV licence? Let me explain as I would to a 5 year old. We pay taxes so that we can have roads and hospitals and street lights, etc. We pay our TV licences so that we can......? Exactly! You say its called a TV licence and not an SABC licence and why do you think that is? Does the money go to anyone other than the SABC? TV Licence by any other name is still SABC licence.

Jane 7/7/2009 2:02:52 PM
Paying for the anc propaganda machine. Must be flippen stupid to assist them!

Lali 7/7/2009 2:04:43 PM
If it wasnt for the sports channel iwouldnt be having DSTV. There is nothing more special about DSTV....Its just a rip-off as we get to watch repeat programmes on a daily basis.

cindy 7/7/2009 2:07:15 PM
agree 100% i don't even LOOK at the sabc channels when surfing for something to watch.

AlfvW 7/7/2009 2:07:50 PM
The "big" problem, and I see it from the comments, is that there are many people not paying to watch. Each broadcaster should operate via a receiver as Multichoice does. If you want to subscribe to a broadcaster, you buy a receiver and a viewer's card. Then at times the broadcaster can check the viewers cards, like Multichoice does. If you do not pay, you get switched off. With a system like this all the free viewers will not be able to watch. And broadcasters like the SABC will have to improve their service or they will loose viewers.
What a lot of bull! Because I own a TV set, I have to have a licence. That is nonsence. Only subscribers should have to pay.

@MZI 7/7/2009 2:10:25 PM
Please tell me where the news is fair, because I do not watch it anymore. I BTW I do pay my TV License and I do have DSTV. You should sometimes read your own rubbish that you write. What is going to happen to one day when this wonderful govt of yours lets you down because you can never see the wrong in what they are doing. You are living with blinders on my dear, and one day they will fall off your eyes and you will see what the govt is all about. Not what they can do for the country, but what they can do for themselves - and this is every govt in the world not only in SA.

Eish!pathetic SABC 7/7/2009 2:11:18 PM
All I can say as long as we have ""puppets of those in Charge" running the SABC with no proper management skills and are professionally CORRUPT the SABC problem like SAA like ESKOM are all not going to go away. EISH man it is tough times ahead for us.

marcel 7/7/2009 2:12:57 PM
@Ian C - Nope buddy, you're using a flawed argument. Saying I choose to take all the channels of DSTV, and pay for them, is the same as saying I choose to buy a TV, and the TV license that comes with it. I do not want 90% of the DSTV channels, but I have no option if I want all the sports channels. My point is, if you're going to complain about the SABC, complain about DSTV as well. Both charge you for things you do not choose to take. You don't want to pay for a TV license, choose not to buy a TV then. I accept if I want DSTV, I'll pay for stuff I don't need. Same with a TV.

PS 7/7/2009 2:18:59 PM
I payed my tv license and its not because I watch SABC. It is the right thing to do. Yes, there is corruption, yes there is nothing to watch. But its such a small amount a year, And if everyone is paying, I mean everyone that can afford it. What is R20 a month. I believe there will be beter shows on. It cost money to make these shows. So come one people, just pay up and start believing. We are all so negative about everything. Start being postive.

Jos 7/7/2009 2:25:18 PM
Sell your TV and stop paying TV Licence then SABC will let the lawyer on because somewhere in your live you had a TV they are like a leach when they have your name they will haunt you even in your grave THEY MUST BE STOPED

Mark 7/7/2009 2:26:11 PM
I heard this great (black) comedian on FiveFm, saying the difference between white and black beliefs is that while some black people believe in the Tokolosh, some white people believe there really is a TV license inspector...

fortune teller 7/7/2009 2:34:24 PM
As I type this the radio is advertising a S.A.B.C's sport promo for an event that already finished saturday-but back to the licence debate: why is it that all tv & radio stations in the U.S. get their income from advertising ONLY!! and they make a profit!!!!!!!!oh and E-tv does the same. I would love it if multichoice took all the S.A.B.C. channels off- and if they refuse all it would take is for people to boycot them. trust me all it takes is 1000 people to stop for one year and they would loose aprox R4.8m a year. A lot of cash to loose from customers just over something that the people dont want in the first place. Regarding the argument that it helps to fund social development programs, the hell with that, if the goverment can spend R1m per car per MEC they can take that argument and shove it!

the truth 7/7/2009 2:35:45 PM
No No. the rich should subsedise the poor

Tada 7/7/2009 2:52:49 PM
The only person making sense and know what he is talking about is Henk and DID YOU KNOW.

Jacko 7/7/2009 3:18:00 PM
Man, I am glad I have never paid my TV license! They wasted all that money - it wasn't mine. HA-HA!

Vic 7/7/2009 3:23:15 PM
Transformation = Disintegration

BB @ Mzi 7/7/2009 3:41:16 PM
"It is only a matter of time we turn this country into a full and functional communist" - beautifully put my man. Once you've done that, we can chase him (the communist) away! LOL.

Wesley 7/7/2009 3:42:22 PM
SABC is crap i hope it burns to the ground never to rise again.

Maruis 7/7/2009 4:06:37 PM
I don’t own a TV and I’m not interested in watching TV except for sport but we have sports bars for that. I do however have a couple high definition multimedia interface. It is a TV but I use it for my PC’s. Guess what, you can’t buy a screen like this without a TV license. Regardless whether you watch TV or not. I’m waiting for them to take me to court on this one. It’s ridiculous! Why should I pay for a service I don’t utilize or want! Eskom has a product they tell you not to buy or rather not to buy too much of and the SABC has a product I don’t want but have to pay for.... only in South Africa.

Jessy 7/7/2009 4:06:45 PM
@MZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So your point is that if I'm poor I must get things for free!From now on I'm going to the movies and not paying because I'm poor.Idiot!!!

Baasantos 7/7/2009 6:23:52 PM
Lets admit it, like it or not, SABC is shit.When this new digital system comes up, that is when I don't own a TV no more and so save a lot on this crap that they make us pay for.RIP SABC

Clive 7/7/2009 6:47:02 PM
I will be the first to have my decoder blocked,so as not to pay the SABC.Leagal Eagles how do we beat the compulsory TV licence law ?

lsu 7/7/2009 10:52:46 PM
I don't own a TV, I download episodes online and watch TV on my PC. I read news online. SABC has nothing to offer me - it is just another government owned company failing to provide me with any form of service.

Chris 7/8/2009 12:44:42 AM
Removing/disabling the tuner on a TV will not help anything more than give a warm feeling: similar to wetting yourself. It will not make any difference to your liability, as the circumsized monitor can still accept direct video inputs. This input can come from a DSTV decoder or PC TV tuner, and therefore still makes it capable of displaying SABC broadcasts. However, since PC monitors can nowadays accept DVI/HDMI signals from DSTV decoders, I wonder how long it will take until one would need a TV license to buy them as well? Tip: if you spend enough money at certain stores, they often look the other way when it comes to the license of a TV: I bought mine brand-new, no license :-)

Anon 7/8/2009 2:52:29 AM
@ MZI. You are funny. Cummunism is an unatainable ideal. One in which every individual works toward the greater good of the community in which there are no leaders. What you are talking about is socialism where the government owns everything and tells people what to do, when to do it and how to do it all in the benefit of the community as a whole. As I see it there is a larger probability of seeing pigs fly than every seeing any of these idealistic systems in place in SA. Communism because its a pipe dream and Socialism because that would require a government that cares about the people. What we are likely to get is a dictatorship which is much like socialism except its run only to the benefit of a few eletists. Oh wait, so that's what's happening in SA. I get it now.

African Ozzie 7/8/2009 4:43:56 AM
No tv licenses required in Aus. It's simple - 99% of working public pay taxes, hence access to public services, service delivery, good infrastructure and good maintenance. Alas, this can only work in the white mans world - the reality of this working in Africa is unheard of.

mike 7/8/2009 7:47:38 AM
the worst is that the sabc pay greedy lawyers to harras even those who have paid. i'm guessing the legal fees are part of the problem it now experiences - too much gravy and no meat :-O

SABC Sucks 7/8/2009 8:44:15 AM
So if I dont watch SABC can I stop paying my so called TV licence? Wonder when there will be a fridge licence or a microwave licence? As for Mzi - I might be living in a house and driving a car but I am poor. I dont have extra money for necessities let alone extravagances so can I also get free TV? Or is it only black people who are poor? TV licencing is just another way that this government can continue to rape us of our hard earned money. Wonder how many Merc's, government official mansions and officials wives manicures my hard earn tax rands have paid for. Surely the SABC cannot be so in the poop with the rip off amount they charge for licences. But I suppose none of them could be seen in a small merc or less than a 5 bedroom house in Sandton with 3 maids and babysitter. Oh wait - I am being racist.

@PS 7/8/2009 8:50:12 AM
Excuse me PS how do you know that eveyone can afford R20 a month. I dont have a cent left in my bank account each month after paying all the exorbitant bills for food, water, rent, electricity etc. I dont even have a cent to buy myself mascara and here you are spouting that it is the right thing to do. If there was anything of value or interest to watch on the SABC channels then fine but there is nothing but repeats and rubbish on SABC. If you can afford to pay the TV licence then please pay mine too

Cypro Mailula 7/8/2009 8:52:23 AM
@Marcel et al: It doesn't matter if DStv has channels I don't watch, the point is that of CHOICE, I choose to watch DStv and pay for it(all channels or not), if I don't like what they offer I simply do not pay and they disconnect - the same should apply for SABC. If the license is for a TV set/turner/receiver etc, then surely a TV set has nothing to do with SABC hence I said the license should then be collected by an independent authority, I believe this will also help people understand that they are not paying SABC but instead for a TV set(ridiculous as it sounds)- I also believe that more people would pay if this was the case. The ability to turn off the service to those who do not pay would also help them collect the "fee" and I'm sure it would also show how many people are interested in their service. It should not be made as if SABC has a stake in the TV manufacturing and therefore we need to pay them simply for owning a TV set. The ideal is that one should be able to have a TV and pay for the services received(including SABC if it has a fee) but also be able to have only what you want and pay for it, regardless if it's SABC only or DSTV only or both.

therina 7/8/2009 9:51:16 AM
I am sick of these people who think we are an endless stream of cash. Do I look like an ATM to you???? As it is the DSTV is R500-00 a month, for the dribble they dishing up as TV. I'm looking at food that was cooked 3 years ago, and as for the bloody movies, looks like they been haulled out the archive, and I must pay R500-00 for that. As far as SABC TV goes.....I will not pay for their stuffen fees!!!!!!!!!. Take the porn off you station and I might think about it. Do you know that there are kids who set their cellphone alarms to this time, so they can sneek off and watch TV at this time of the evening. YOU IDIOTS CAN'T MANAGE YOUR WAY OUT A PAPER PACKET!!!!!!!

RadioGAGA 7/8/2009 9:53:30 AM
SABC TV really leaves me stone cold, but radio still works for me. I used to be tuned in to Springbok Radio all the time until they closed it down. Later I discovered Radio2000, but they changed all the interesting programs. I try and try, but radio still has not come up with anything equalling those two. Pity about the "new" Radio2000. They lost my support. TV? Just habit has me turn it on. Radio 5 still has my vague interest as background noise. SABC wake up!

Sean 7/8/2009 10:17:36 AM
@Mark V. If everybody paid TV licence fees, SABC would have far more to spend on rubbish.DSTV also sucks, too many repeats.

TedHaller 7/8/2009 10:57:17 AM
The SABC should go the decoder route. Hand out decoders to all that wish to watch SABC and then have a R25 connection fee. That means no additional cost to 'legal' SABC viewers (I think the monthly cost for a SABC TV licence is R25), and the SABC will simply be able to scramble the signal to those decoders where there is no payment. If you don't want to watch SABC - return the decoder.

Gary 7/8/2009 12:10:41 PM
I and my g/friend have been living together for 12 years, we both had tv licences before moving in with each other. I have ben trying to cancel my licence since then but cannot. We need to be married ???. Talk about being ripped off!!!!!

tamza 7/8/2009 1:05:17 PM
yeah we should have freedom of choice and the sabc is doing things right now, is like we're still in bondage. they must really improve their services.
it will also be better if DSTV allows us to select only the channels we want and not pay for unnecesary channels.

anon 7/8/2009 3:32:54 PM
You know - some of us are just raised with a sense of responsibility and it's natural instinct not to try to avert the law. R200 a year will not break the bank and didn't even break the bank as a student. What really p*sses me off is that the "poor" get it for free - well you know what - if you can't afford it don't have it - that's what we had to ensdure growing up. Television is not a right it is a luxury, so go buy a newspaper!!

Shiza T 7/8/2009 3:36:43 PM
Well ... in most places where some level of law provails , what the SABC/ANC are doing with licence fee's is called racketering , demanding payment for a service that is not wanted and unnesseccary . ( i personally want to cotch every time i pay that bill so that propaganda , censorship , mis management and giant loads of crap can flourish). Until they go digital and can account for viewership through a decoder system the nightmare continues !!!!

AJ 7/9/2009 7:13:37 AM
It is worth noting that the BBC does NOT flight adverts because the money collected for the TV license in the UK is there for it to use, and therefore it does not need to run adverts. IN fact BBC News web site only recently started posting adverts on it's we pages. That is an example of a TV license working for the customer.

samsam @ANON 7/9/2009 8:39:18 AM
Being a student, I would advice you to take Bus Mgt course in your degree/dip. Whenever you make arguments must be tried and tested as an academic dont whaffle.The point is SA is neither nor adopting Socialim or Capitalism, in actual fact SA is using free market econ system (mixed econ system)in that sense rich must contribute to the poor, same to G8 that must contribute to poor countries in Africa. Try to stay away from what you are thinking.Look at the partnership of Bafokeng and the miners in Rusternburg that is what is needed,isnt beautiful ,are you not jealous of that progress. Compare it with English who took tons ‘n tons of our gold and left our country dry, according to you this must happen, for us as true citizens of this country we don’t want to see ourselves in the situation of Zim by means of following your blindness

Dewie 7/9/2009 9:27:38 AM
Keep the SABC- Just remove that stupid "7DE LAAN"!!!!

Princess 7/9/2009 9:54:54 AM
Does anyone know the email address of DSTV so we can complain about the repeats? My DSTV feels like its stuck in the 70's and 80's. For R500 per month I was hoping for something a little more recent?

Ds 7/9/2009 12:49:06 PM
@Princess... dont bother asking DSTV about their repeats... who with get a "sarcastic" reponse saying it because of the bandwidth limitations... Wheather its a new or old programme it still takes up band width...Hello! It actually comes down to what Multichoice is purchasing in terms of new programmes. So it would appear that charge the subscribers more for less "magic" Do you think they care? They have the monopoly on TV programming and entertainment, what choice have we ...SABC?
Coming back to SABC why are we still paying for a licence seeing the SABC make their revenue out of Advertising slots. All those lovely commercial breaks actually pay for the SABC to operate not R200 per year per viewer!

reknaw 7/9/2009 1:36:18 PM
ALL tv sabc,dstv,is crap,had both so boring rather rent dvd,

jaco 7/9/2009 9:24:29 PM
i`m working in the sh@t holes of africa and even in these countries you don`t pay for a tv license you get a decoder and you can watch nile sat or arab sat without costing you a sent and they have a lot of english channels with the latest movies at no cost i say F@CK THE sabc i hope they go belly up and some one else takes over and make it better where we can have propper TV without all of this bullsh@t and it does not cost us a arm and a leg for government shit all the time

geraldine 7/10/2009 5:58:31 AM
I share most of these coments,i have DSTV myself and never wath any of the crap shown on sabc,i used to watch 7de laan and wich that it could be braodcasted on kyk net,as made it law in our home not to suport sabc.

Ant K 7/10/2009 8:27:17 AM
I was without TV for 2 years when my x left and I stayed with friends (who had their own TV license). When I went to buy a new set I found I had accrued 2 years of unpaid fees and penalties nogal! So I went to their local office to explain and was told to run around police stations getting sworn affidavits etc all of which I did, then went to buy the set and only after much yelin and shouting, did they life my "ban" and allow me to purchase a new license. Then the net year when I went to pay again, guess what? The penalties were re-instated, but now for 4 years and i had 4 years back payments to do including a double payment for the year I paid, when I asked why, i was told to run around again and get more sworn affidavits etc. God help SABC if they have people pushing buttons incorrectly. This is what happens when you employ people because of their race, not their ability. I've invited the lawyers threatening to sue me to PLEASE do so and do it quick, so I can clear MY name from SABC's mud.

Jacobus Herculaas de la Rey 7/10/2009 9:39:34 AM
Its bad enough having to pay taxes to morons. Why can't these things be optional - like giving something to the chap watching your car or petrol attendant. My petrol attendant is far more educated and intelligent than any of those monkey politicians in this country. Tv licence is really stupid - why not have a child licence. If you want to have a child you should at least have to prove that you are not a just a rat ready to pop out more infestations

Carlin 7/10/2009 1:05:20 PM
Sure, the SABC board is run by a bunch of incompetents and, for sure, the shows are as has been and tenth rate ad their actors, but pay the goddam license for the thousands of poor a*holes just like you and me who keep the show running for the much needed salary. As for the politicised commentators: ignore them. These wankers wont see faults in the ANC even on the evidence of a choir of angels and a message written in the sky. Their pulp rhetorical drivel should not provoke a response from educated people.

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Midrand - 18:18:10 PM The new N1 Highway bridge will be opened to traffic from around 5pm on Saturday - new on and off-ramps to and from the N1 Highway will come into effect at that time More traffic reports...

Here are the winning Lotto numbers from the Wednesday, November 04 draw.

6, 7, 30, 31, 39, 47 Bonus 49

Lotto Plus:  15, 16, 21, 23, 27, 36 Bonus 3

SMS the word Lotto to 31222 to get lotto numbers sent directly to your phone. The service costs just R10 per month.
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Jobs - Find your dream job

Network Administrator

Gauteng
Evrst Business Solutions

Stratus Developer

Gauteng
Evrst Business Solutions

Development Tester

Gauteng
Evrst Business Solutions

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Cars - Search 1000's of new and used cars

AUDI

2008 A4 1.8T Multitronics from R 269 000

LAND ROVER

Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE 4x4 Dsl AT
2006
R 319,990.00

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i TenaCiti 5-dr
2008
R 67,900.00

OPEL

Astra Classic 160i
1999
R 49,900.00

Property - Find a new home

COLBYN

Single Residential R2,700,000

SANDTON

Single Residential R2,450,000

ATLANTIC BEACH GOLF ESTATE

Single Residential R15,750,000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Enjoy a week long tropical escape from only R8 156 per person sharing (includes accommodation, return flights, airport taxes and transfer, non-motorised watersports, breakfast and dinner. Book now!

Free Games - TOO MUCH NEWS? TAKE A BREAK!

Zuma

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Twenty20 Cricket

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Bejeweled 2

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Mahjongg Fortuna

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Diner Dash 2

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