For many Venda and Tsonga households, paying a TV licence is starting to feel less like a civic obligation and more like cultural exploitation. The frustration has little to do with the fee itself and everything to do with the widening gap between what people contribute and the representation they receive in return.
In a country with three public broadcasting channels, it remains striking that there is still no dedicated, uninterrupted platform for these two major language groups. Venda and Tsonga viewers rarely see themselves reflected on screen in a meaningful way. When content in their languages does appear, it is limited, irregular or pushed into off-peak slots. The result is a public broadcaster that positions itself as a service to all South Africans while quietly sidelining communities whose cultural contributions are substantial.
The marginalisation extends beyond viewers. Artists, producers, actors and storytellers from these communities struggle to find platforms that recognise their work and treat their stories as part of South Africa’s cultural landscape, rather than occasional fillers. The lack of consistent programming leaves talented voices fighting for space in an industry that should already include them.
This raises a simple question: what exactly are Venda and Tsonga households paying for when they renew their TV licences? Are their fees indirectly funding the flourishing of other language groups while their own stories remain invisible? A public broadcaster funded by the people should reflect the people in full, not selectively.
South Africa does not lack Venda and Tsonga stories. These communities have rich oral traditions, deep histories and a growing pool of young filmmakers, musicians and producers. The issue is not the absence of content but the absence of commitment to broadcasting it — to investing in it and ensuring it meets competitive production standards.
Public broadcasting should unify diverse voices, not deprioritise them. Until Venda and Tsonga audiences receive steady, uninterrupted programming in their languages, dissatisfaction over TV licence fees will continue to grow. People are willing to support national institutions, but those institutions must support them in return.