To support the government’s initiative for nationwide digital migration, free subsidised TV decoders are now available to households in South Africa.

But how do South Africans know if they qualify to receive a free TV decoder, or what is also called a set-top box? Here’s all the information you need to know if you can also be able to receive one.

Initially, every home in the country was supposed to have received the subsidised TV decoder by 2022. However, numerous new deadlines have been set since then.

According to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, there have been shortcomings in the implementation of the necessary switch from analogue to digital television.

The South African recently reported that the current deadline for digital migration is 31 March 2025. This means millions of homes could be without access to television.

According to the South African Post Office (SAPO), homes that meet a certain criteria are eligible to receive a free subsidised TV decoder. Here’s who qualifies.

All these individuals or homes also need to have a working television in order to qualify to receive the decoder.

The Minister of Communications, Solly Malatsi, said the estimated number of beneficiaries who have applied for a free decoder stands at over 400 000.

“Our figures estimate that there are currently over 400 000 beneficiaries who have registered to get set-top boxes. We need to make sure that they are provided those set-top boxes and the installations take place,” Malatsi explained.