SABC gets tough on TV licences
The SABC today announced the launch of its new-look TV Licence Inspectorate, ‘combining personal contact with innovative technology to ensure an effective and efficient service’.
The TV Licence Inspectorate comprises four service providers who will each focus on specific regions across South Africa.
“Making a real difference to the lives of all South Africans is what the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) is committed to delivering through its public service mandate. Funding this obligation is no mean feat,” the SABC said.
The SABC said that over and above its income raised through advertising and sponsorships, the Corporation relies heavily on revenues accrued from the collection of TV licence fees to provide essential broadcasting services to the millions of radio listeners and television viewers who tune in across South Africa on a daily basis.
Currently, income from the collection of television licence fees contributes approximately 20% to the SABC’s annual operating revenue.
Anton Heunis, Head: Audience Services Division of the SABC, comments: “Every South African who owns or uses a television set is legally obliged to pay a TV licence fee. A television set is defined as any device designed or adapted to be capable of receiving a broadcast television signal. So, by paying your annual TV licence, you are not only contributing to the enrichment of millions of South African lives, you are also acting as a good citizen by obeying the law.”
Door-to-door campaign
The four service providers – Professional Mobile Mapping (Gauteng/North-West Province); The Workforce Group (Free State/KZN); Creditworx S&V (Western, Eastern, Northern Cape) and Malebo Manyeleti Holdings (Limpopo/Mpumalanga) – are contracted to the national broadcaster to go door-to-door across the country and ensure that households, businesses and retailers are complying with the law by being in possession of a valid (paid-up) television licence.
The collection of television licence fees is governed by Section 27 of the Broadcasting Act, no. 4 of 1999, as amended. This Act states that any person who owns or uses a television set must be in possession of a TV licence issued by the SABC.
“The new-look TV Licence Inspectorate has been launched to educate and assist our clients – be they households, businesses or dealers – in complying with the law and taking out or renewing a television licence,” says Heunis.
“The inspectors’ approach is one of friendly service. By utilising innovative technology via a GPS mapping system they will be able to identify households and businesses which, according to the SABC’s TV licence database, are not in possession of a valid television licence. Anyone found in possession of a television set without a valid licence by a visiting inspector will be liable for payment of the prescribed annual licence fee plus a penalty of double the licence fee.
“Furthermore, our inspectors will be able to update a licence holder’s personal information on our database instantly, check the payment status of the account through his ID number or TV licence number and, if required, issue a Payment Advice Form (provisional licence) to facilitate payment of the licence fee at any one of the SABC’s designated pay points across the country. However, the inspectors are prohibited from accepting any form of payment,” says Heunis.
All of these transactions are facilitated through a palmtop PDA computer (able to access the TV Licences database) linked to a mobile printer, with which every inspector is equipped.
By entering an ID number or TV licence account number the client’s personal information is instantly downloaded via GPRS from a central Oracle server and displayed on the hand-held device.
The updated information is entered into the palmtop computer and relayed to the server. This information is then sent electronically via a secure, dedicated line to the SABC, where it is downloaded onto the TV Licences database. The entire process is streamlined, immediate and secure.
“Talking security, the inspectors will only conduct their door-to-door calling during reasonable hours. They are also easily identifiable through their uniforms and a personalised ID card reflecting their details and those of the company they represent, including a call centre number that may be dialled to validate an inspector’s details,” continues Heunis.
“We are very excited about the new technology and its ability to facilitate the television licence payment process – the days of filling in forms in triplicate are long gone! The more households and businesses that comply with the law and pay their TV licence fees, the more revenue for the public broadcaster, resulting in higher quality programming for all our radio listeners and television viewers. At the end of the day, we can all be winners – and we can all make a difference,” concludes Heunis.
Commenting on the SABC’s public broadcasting mandate its Group CEO, Dali Mpofu, says that it is the right of every South African to enjoy quality programming – on both radio and television – that educates, informs and entertains. “As the national broadcaster, we have an obligation to realise our vision and ensure that our listeners and viewers embrace total citizen empowerment through our enriching content.
“Funding to produce this local content is derived in part from TV licence fees which, as stated in the Broadcasting Act, may be used only for the delivery of radio and television programming that benefits all South Africans,” Mpofu concluded.
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