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The SABC has published its policy presentations in the Draft Audiovisual Content Services white paper, providing more details on its plans to introduce a household tax to help fund the broadcaster.
The group indicated that this tax could replace the current television license fee system, which has seen a decline in collections in recent years.
“The current television license fee system should be eliminated and replaced by a device-independent and technologically neutral tax on public broadcasting households, which would impose on all households, with exemptions for the indigent and discounts for the public. retired, ”he said.
“The Household Tax is based on the fact that all South African households have the realistic ability to access publicly broadcast content, either through free-to-air analogue television and radio platforms or through DTT, DTH, the Internet and streaming services through various mobile applications. “
This means that the rate will be linked to the the ability of the public to access the content of public broadcasting instead of consuming that content.
He noted that the German Constitutional Court upheld a similar household tax system as constitutional in 2018, as it was “specifically for financing public service programming that is fundamental to democracy.”
“The German court also determined that even if a household does not use public broadcasting, it has a” realistic ability to use it. “
“It should be noted that, despite reports to the contrary, the SABC is not in favor of licensing or charging any device or technology in lieu of a public transmission fee.”
Other streams
Another proposal being considered by the SABC will see other media companies obtain television licenses on behalf of the national broadcaster.
Presenting himself to parliament last week, Deputy Communications Minister Pinky Kekana said that if companies like Multichoice can be forced to collect television license fees on behalf of the SABC, some of the financial problems facing the broadcaster could be mitigated. State.
Kekana added that this would not be limited to Multichoice and that other broadcasters can assist in the compilation as well. In October 2020 instructions, SABC indicated that this could include streaming services such as Netflix.
The SABC said this would be similar to municipalities collecting traffic tickets and motor vehicle license discs. The SABC said the expanded definition of a television license is outdated and must be adjusted to current realities.
Kekana said SABC’s budget constraints mean that it now runs the risk of having to rationalize programming that is presented in indigenous languages.
He said a household tax could help alleviate these concerns, as the SABC could receive additional funding as public service media.
However, Kekana said that this was only a proposal and that any additional levy or tax would have to be approved by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni.
“We cannot stand by and say that the status quo must remain when we know that our public broadcaster is dwindling. So these are the proposals that we must put in the public domain and if the government can finance us directly from the treasury or be creative when analyzing the tax on households. “
Read: Massive drop in TV license payments as SABC pushes new ways of charging
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