The SABC has vehemently denounced a fabricated media statement falsely claiming that the public broadcaster plans to introduce a car radio licence fee.
The SABC has labelled the statement “misleading and baseless”, asserting that it has neither issued any such announcement nor made any public pronouncement regarding a car radio licence fee.
“We categorically refute this disinformation with the contempt it deserves,” an SABC spokesperson declared, emphasising that the claim contradicts the public broadcaster’s policies and directives.
The SABC clarified that its current licensing framework, as stipulated in the Broadcasting Act 4 of 1999 and the TV Licence Regulations of 2004, applies solely to television sets.
“There is no provision or proposal within our existing framework to extend licensing to car radios,” the spokesperson added.
Any changes to this system would necessitate legislative amendments and comprehensive public consultation, processes the SABC has not initiated.
The corporation views the spread of this false narrative as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and disrupt its operations.
Misleading statement aims to destabilise SABC
This disinformation campaign comes at a critical time, as the SABC celebrates a major milestone of reaching 1-million subscribers on its over-the-top platform, SABC Plus.
“This fabricated statement is clearly aimed at causing panic and destabilising the SABC, especially when we are marking significant achievements in our digital growth,” the spokesperson noted.
The success of SABC Plus underscores the public’s trust in the corporation, making the timing of this falsehood particularly damaging, according to the public broadcaster.
To combat misinformation, the SABC has urged the public to rely solely on its official platforms for accurate information.
“All legitimate SABC media statements are published exclusively through our verified channels, including our website and official social media accounts,” the spokesperson advised.
The corporation encouraged individuals to verify any claims about its policies through these sources to avoid being misled.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious information and disregard these false claims about a car radio licence fee.”
