The SABC has clarified its stance on the subject of introduction of automobile radio licences.

This morning, a memo extensively shared on social media said that South Africans would begin paying for automobile radio licences as a way to function their vehicle stereos. The memo was purportedly shared by the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC).

The memo said that over the course of the previous couple of years, the broadcaster had seen its income dwindle because of streaming companies like Netflix. It added that these companies have taken shopper consideration away from cable tv, decreasing the SABC’s tv licence income.

“Underneath the brand new part 69 of the telecommunications act of 1996, all South Africans who utilise motor automobiles with radios will probably be required to all the time carry a automobile radio licence with them,” the memo reads.

Moreover, the licences would appeal to a cost of R401 a yr with non-compliance leading to a superb of as much as R750 or as much as 90 days in jail.

The memo induced fairly a stir on social media with customers pointing to the absurdity of the supposed income assortment initiative.

In response, the SABC has launched a press assertion refuting the validity of the memo. Within the assertion, the broadcaster said that it didn’t make any public pronouncements pertaining to licences for automobile radios.

Concerning TV licences, analysis exhibits that almost all of South Africans don’t pay for them, affecting the SABC’s backside line. The broadcaster’s annual report for 2022 confirmed that there was an evasion fee of 81.7% over the course of the yr.

The SABC has a database of 10.5 million TV licence holders, with roughly 8.6 million at the moment not holding a licence.