South Africans Rage Over Complicated TV Licence Cancellation Process Revealed by Tech YouTuber

A South African tech YouTuber, @pmhk_za, recently shared a detailed guide on how to cancel a TV licence, igniting frustration among viewers.

In his January 6, 2026 video, he explained that one of the cancellation requirements involves obtaining a police affidavit. This affidavit must state that the individual does not own a television or has been out of the country for over a year. Viewers were shocked at the cumbersome process, which includes gathering supporting documents based on various circumstances.

For those leaving South Africa, the YouTuber outlined that proof of travel such as a passport exit stamp, visa, or work permits must be submitted. The hassle doesn’t end there; the documents must then be sent to the SABC either via email or in person.

He also detailed what to expect during the cancellation process—ranging from receiving no response at all, to being handed over to collections, leaving many feeling lost and frustrated.

As he noted:

“They should have known this was a failing model when one of the requirements for cancellation is submitting a whole police affidavit explaining why you're trying to cancel...”

Angry Responses from South African Users

The comments section lit up with South Africans expressing their disbelief and dissatisfaction:

@sizwe.gumede.14 commented:

“Hi. Pay your TV licence, bro. Why are you cancelling it?”

@hlolz_le_nug shared:

“I went to the police station, and they didn't believe that you need an affidavit to cancel your TV licence. 😒”

@shamshair._ said:

“I don't even watch government TV 😂”

Questions also arose, such as:

@writemyowncheques asked, “I don't even have a TV. How would they know?”

And many were suspicious:

@hanna2neu wondered, “I am wondering if some of those requests for payments are scams and not SABC at all.”

Others shared their own frustrating experiences:

@zurica82 expressed, “And then you go to the police station, you do the affidavit, you submit all required documentation to the SABC… And they STILL deduct money!”

Catch the entire breakdown in the Instagram video linked here.

Updates on Licenses in South Africa

• Recent news highlighted Gauteng SAPS arresting a tavern owner operating with a fake licence.
• The SABC has assured citizens they will not face arrest for non-payment of TV licences.
• Also, over 700,000 drivers are still waiting for new licence cards due to a significant backlog caused by South Africa's only licence-printing machine.