Qualifying households have been urged to apply for a free government-subsidised decoder (set-top box) at their local post office. During the 2021 state of the nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa must complete the migration to digital broadcast by March 31, 2022.

Johan Kruger, Communications Manager at SA Post Office, expressed her thoughts on the migration saying: “Qualifying households do not have to pay anything for the set-top box — it is free. All South African households with an income of R3 500 per month or less and a working television set qualify for a government subsidised set-top box. 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”.

He then added that qualifying households that apply before November 1 would receive a decoder before the analogue television signal is switched off. Those who apply after November 1 will only receive a decoder later.

To recall, qualifying beneficiaries must visit their nearest post office branch as soon as possible with their SA identity document, proof of address and an affidavit to confirm that the family has a working television set.