Question NW1854 to the Minister of Communications
17 September 2020 - NW1854
Ngwenya, Ms DB to ask the Minister of Communications
Whether her department will consider scrapping television licence fees for pensioners and war veterans; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department considers the handing over of pensioners to attorneys for the collection of television licence fees a fair treatment for the senior citizens of the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I have been advised by the department as follows:
1. The department will, in due course, be consulting on the Draft White Paper Audio and Audiovisual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa. It will be worthy to consider the category of individuals and institutions that should be considered for such a relief.
2. The collection of television licence fees is the responsibility of the SABC. The department has not adopted a position in this regard because the SABC has not engaged the department on the issue. As indicated above, this requires discussions and will be raised during public consultations.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES