Cummunity members from Buntingville, in Ngqeleni, in the Nyandeni Local Municipality, came out in numbers to register to receive government-supplied set-top boxes, needed for broadcast digital migration, as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) visited their area on August 31.
The DCDT visited Ndamase Senior Secondary School on the day to raise public awareness of the broadcast digital migration programme.
Following the gazetting of September 30 as the final date for eligible indigent households to register for government-subsidised decoders and installation, the DCDT has intensified the awareness campaign, using various platforms including door-to-door campaigns.
“We are working hand-in-hand with local municipalities who have deployed their ward councillors and ward committees at ground level and are able to help residents register and take their registration forms to their nearest Post Office for capturing.
“We have also forged partnerships with traditional councils and faith-based organisations are also assisting in helping residents register before the closing date of September 30,” said DCDT broadcast digital migration chief director, Dr Fhatuwani Mutuvhi.
He further said the department has, so far, successfully supplied and installed over a million decoders to qualifying citizens.
A jubilant Thuli Kwezi (69), of Buntingville, who had her decoder installed on the day, said she had given up watching her television set due to a poor signal in her area.
“I am very happy to have received my digital decoder today, which comes with more television channels for me to enjoy.”
The government-supplied and installed decoders are said to have 28 television channels, as well as all 19 radio stations which fall under the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has appealed to households with a monthly income of R3 500 or less, that still rely on analogue transmission for television, to visit their nearest post offices to register and apply for the decoders.
Registrations can also be done online by visiting www.stbregistration.gov.za.
