THREE things that will cost South Africans more on 1 April 2025

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Life for tens of millions of South Africans is just days away from getting a whole lot more expensive.

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As reported by The South African website this week, MultiChoice South Africa announced its annual price and product adjustments for DStv and Showmax.

DStv prices will go up from Tuesday, 1 April 2025.

Sadly, that’s no April Fool’s joke!

Price may still go up

MultiChoice had initially delayed its DStv price hike announcement to mid-March following the postponed Budget Speech and any impact a VAT hike would have on prices.

DStv made it clear that prices would be effective from 1 April, but were quick to add that any confirmed VAT hike (effective from 1 May) may well lead to a further price adjustment.

“As announced in the recent national budget, South Africa’s VAT rate will increase by 0.5% to 15.5% from 1 May 2025. As a result, pricing may be adjusted to reflect the new VAT rate effective 1 May. We will communicate how the VAT increase affects your package pricing in April 2025,” DStv said in a message to customers.

The top-end DStv Premium option has seen its price increase by R50 per month from R929 to R979. That’s an annual increase of R600.

Bear in mind that that monthly price excludes the new DStv Access Fee of R125 (which was R120 previously), an extra R60 per annum.

DStv urged its customers to ‘enjoy the ultimate entertainment and sport package for R979 per month effective 1 April 2025.’

MultiChoice encouraged customers to take advantage of its price lock deals, which it maintains ‘offers amazing value’.

“For example, on a 24-month price lock contract, available until 31 March 2025 at R899 per month, customers save R205 per month,” it said.

NOTE: The South African website has been unable to determine how DStv arrived at that R205pm figure

DStv fees for 2025 effective from 1 April:

Package / Service	Old price	2025 fees	Price hike
DStv Premium	R929	R979	R50
DStv Compact Plus	R619	R659	R40
DStv Compact	R469	R479	R10
DStv Family	R329	R339	R10
DStv Access	R139	R150	R11
DStv EasyView	R29	R30	R1
DStv Access Fee	R120	R125	R5

*Above prices calculated at 15% VAT

South Africans are increasingly turning away from DStv Premium subscriptions in favour of more affordable, versatile streaming options. Image via renateko/Pixabay

Electricity price hike

While many South Africans may well have long-since cancelled their DStv subscription and are not affected by the upcoming price change, there’s less chance they will be able to – legally at least – escape Eskom’s electricity price hike, also scheduled to kick in on 1 April 2025.

As reported by The South African website, Eskom confirmed that electricity will cost 12.74% more from the start of next month onwards.

That percentage hike was approved by national energy regulator Nersa after Eskom had originally applied for a whopping 36.15% increase.

By way of example, if your monthly electricity bill is currently a round R1 000, from next month onwards you’ll pay R1 127.40.

That’s an extra R127.40 per month – or R1 528.80 over the course of the next year.

The Eskom electricity price hike should amount to a far greater monthly outlay for South Africans than the DStv price change.

While DStv price increases for next year – and the year thereafter – are yet to be confirmed, Eskom has already been given the green light to hike electricity prices by a further 5.36% in 2026/27 and 6.19% in 2027/28.

***Eskom has been granted a 12.74% electricity price increase, effective 1 April 2025. Image: Unsplash***

Phoning home just got more expensive

But that’s not all the bad news!

As reported by The South African website, Telkom announced this week that it plans to adjust tariffs across its consumer and small to medium business (SMB) fixed broadband and voice products.

You guessed it, those price hikes will also take effect on 1 April 2025.

If you’re a Telkom customer who receives your electricity from Eskom and enjoys watching the Springboks live on DStv, perhaps consider staying in bed on Tuesday, 1 April 2025.

It certainly would be cheaper than switching on the kettle and TV and answering the phone!