SABC ordered to block Zimbabweans from watching its channels

Many Zimbabweans are set to lose their access to free-to-air TV channels like SABC 1, 2 and 3 among others, after the South African High Court in Johannesburg ordered signal carrier Sentech to encrypt its signal within the next three months.

For several years now viewers in countries like Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique and Malawi have used a range of decoders like Wiztech, Philibao, Fortec Star and Vivid, to view television channels beamed from South Africa without subscription.

But last year eBotswana, a subsidiary of South Africa's eTV, took the matter to court demanding that Sentech encrypt its signal to prevent this cross border signal piracy. Sentech was also accused of knowing about the problem and not doing anything about it. Last week the court ruled against Sentech and ordered it to pay the costs of eBotswana's application.

The court decision now means many in Zimbabwe will lose access to channels as not everyone can afford the subscriptions required.