SA Post Office on applying for subsidized TV decoder

Apply for subsidised TV decoder now, says SA Post Office

Qualifying households should visit their local post office as soon as possible to apply for a free government-subsidised decoder (also called a set-top box).  Qualifying households do not have to pay anything for the set-top box – it is free.

During the 2021 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa must complete the migration to digital broadcast by 31st March 2022.  The analogue television signal will be switched off and only digital television transmissions will be broadcast. Analogue television sets will then only work if they are connected to a decoder. 

Qualifying households that apply before 1 November 2021 will receive a decoder before the analogue television signal is switched off.  Those who apply after 1 November will only receive a decoder later. 

All South African households with an income of R3500 per month or less and a working television set qualify for a government subsidised set-top box.  Qualifying beneficiaries must visit their nearest Post Office branch as soon as possible with the following documentation:

  1. A South African identity document.
  2. Proof of address.
  3. An affidavit to confirm that the family has a working television set.
  4. A bank statement or affidavit to confirm that the family income is R3500 per month or less. If you receive a SASSA grant, you do not need to bring proof of income.  Proof that you receive a SASSA grant is enough.

The Post Office branhces have standard affidavits that the applicants can use to declare their income, to confirm that they own a working television set, and to confirm their residential address.  You do not need to visit a police station to do an official affidavit before you go to the Post Office.

Once an application has been approved, the information is given to Sentech to appoint a local installer to install your set-top box. 

The SA Post Office is aware that some families registered for a set-top box at the beginning of the campaign, but the installation has not been done yet.  Installations are done per province and appointment of local installers is done by Sentech via local municipalities.  There is no need to re-register to make sure you receive a set-top box.

Even if your local Post Office is very busy with grant payments, rest assured: if you apply for a subsidised set-top box, you will go into a separate queue. If you are a SASSA beneficiary and you have a working television set, remember that you qualify for the subsidised set-top box.

The quality of digital television broadcasts is better than an analogue signal.  The subsidised set-top box also gives a much bigger selection of channels:

Television channels

  1. SABC 1
  2. SABC 2
  3. SABC 3
  4. SABC Sport
  5. SABC Education
  6. SABC Encore
  7. SABC News
  8. Parliament
  9. Africa Magic Epic
  10. Mzanzi Bioskop
  11. M Movies 4
  12. Mzanzi Wethu
  13. S Sport Blitz
  14. SS Select sport
  15. Discovery TLC
  16. Disney JNR
  17. Nick Toons
  18. Mzanzi Music
  19. Channel O
  20. Dumisa
  21. Mnet Go
  22. 790 CSN

Radio stations

  1. Radio 2000
  2. Metro
  3. Good Hope
  4. RSG
  5. 04 Channel Africa
  6. 5FM
  7. Lesedi Fm
  8. Lotus
  9. Ukhozi
  10. SAFM
  11. Umhlobo
  12. Thobela
  13. Metsweding
  14. Munghana Lonene
  15. Phalaphala
  16. Ligwalagala
  17. Ikwekwezi
  18. Tru FM
  19. X K FM

Enquiries:

Enquiries:
Johan Kruger
Cell: 082 337 3116
 

Issued by
More on

Share this page

Similar categories to explore