Television licence fees will increase 11 percent, the SABC said on Tuesday.

The increase, effective from last Saturday, was approved by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement.

"The annual fee for a domestic, business, dealer and lessor licence will increase by R25 — from R225 to R250.

"Concessionary TV licences, granted to those over the age of 70 years as well as to receivers of social grants from the state, will be increased by a mere eight percent — from R65 to R70 per annum."

This was the third tariff increase in the last 11 years.

"Had the SABC been allowed annual inflation-related tariff adjustments since 1998, the current R250 fee would now have been R426... The new tariff works out to less than 70 cents a day."

The public broadcaster receives television licence revenue to enable it to provide locally-produced radio and television programmes in line with its public service mandate.