Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts about this donor come from
Every fact on the donor page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What is SIYAYA FREE TO AIR TV (PTY) LTD?
Who it is
Aubrey Tau, chief executive (News24, Nov 2022).
News24. Published 19 November 2022.
Where to look: Body: "Siyaya survived to establish the Moja Love channel carried by DStv."; "Siyaya TV chief executive Aubrey Tau"; "The traditional authority, via its wholly owned Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Strategic Investment Company (BBKSIC), advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community."; "Siyaya TV seemingly took advantage of the traditional council who were the minority shareholder but covered most of the costs through BBKSIC"; "Now a forensic investigation suggests"; Tau: "We can confirm that approximately 80% of Siyaya's loan obligations have to date been repaid." "He did not provide any evidence to back up this assertion."
What did the parties declare?
The IEC funding reports
This donor gave ActionSA 2 donations worth R1 500 000, as declared to the IEC. They were made between January and June 2026.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 29 May 2026.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 27 August 2026.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
What has been reported?
Official records and news
News24 and the investigative newsroom amaBhungane reported in 2022 that Siyaya set up the Moja Love channel, which DStv carries. They named Aubrey Tau as its chief executive.
News24. Published 19 November 2022.
Where to look: Body: "Siyaya survived to establish the Moja Love channel carried by DStv."; "Siyaya TV chief executive Aubrey Tau"; "The traditional authority, via its wholly owned Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Strategic Investment Company (BBKSIC), advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community."; "Siyaya TV seemingly took advantage of the traditional council who were the minority shareholder but covered most of the costs through BBKSIC"; "Now a forensic investigation suggests"; Tau: "We can confirm that approximately 80% of Siyaya's loan obligations have to date been repaid." "He did not provide any evidence to back up this assertion."
News24 reported that the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela traditional council, through its own investment company, advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya. To advance money is to pay it out ahead, often as a loan.
News24. Published 19 November 2022.
Where to look: Body: "Siyaya survived to establish the Moja Love channel carried by DStv."; "Siyaya TV chief executive Aubrey Tau"; "The traditional authority, via its wholly owned Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Strategic Investment Company (BBKSIC), advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community."; "Siyaya TV seemingly took advantage of the traditional council who were the minority shareholder but covered most of the costs through BBKSIC"; "Now a forensic investigation suggests"; Tau: "We can confirm that approximately 80% of Siyaya's loan obligations have to date been repaid." "He did not provide any evidence to back up this assertion."
News24 said this happened "without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community". It said the council was a minority shareholder but covered most of Siyaya's costs. It based this on a forensic investigation.
News24. Published 19 November 2022.
Where to look: Body: "Siyaya survived to establish the Moja Love channel carried by DStv."; "Siyaya TV chief executive Aubrey Tau"; "The traditional authority, via its wholly owned Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Strategic Investment Company (BBKSIC), advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community."; "Siyaya TV seemingly took advantage of the traditional council who were the minority shareholder but covered most of the costs through BBKSIC"; "Now a forensic investigation suggests"; Tau: "We can confirm that approximately 80% of Siyaya's loan obligations have to date been repaid." "He did not provide any evidence to back up this assertion."
Aubrey Tau told News24 that about 80% of Siyaya's loans had been repaid. News24 said he gave no evidence for this.
News24. Published 19 November 2022.
Where to look: Body: "Siyaya survived to establish the Moja Love channel carried by DStv."; "Siyaya TV chief executive Aubrey Tau"; "The traditional authority, via its wholly owned Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Strategic Investment Company (BBKSIC), advanced R99 054 271.01 to Siyaya without any clear repayment dates and without any mandate from the community."; "Siyaya TV seemingly took advantage of the traditional council who were the minority shareholder but covered most of the costs through BBKSIC"; "Now a forensic investigation suggests"; Tau: "We can confirm that approximately 80% of Siyaya's loan obligations have to date been repaid." "He did not provide any evidence to back up this assertion."
In 2012 the company wrote to ICASA, which licenses broadcasters. It gave its name as Siyaya Free To Air TV (Proprietary) Limited and an address in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Siyaya Free To Air TV (Proprietary) Limited. Published 30 July 2012.
Where to look: Letterhead, page 1: "SIYAYA FREE TO AIR TV (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED Reg No 2010/018674/07"; footer: "Hyde Park, Johannesburg"; page 2: "As a current holder of an ICASA DTT test license"
ICASA's complaints committee said in 2024 that ICASA gave Siyaya a subscription TV licence on 21 January 2015.
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Published 24 July 2024.
Where to look: Title page: "SIYAYA FREE TO AIR TV (PTY) LTD RESPONDENT"; para 4: "On 21 January 2015, ICASA issued a Commercial Subscription Television Broadcasting Service Licence to Siyaya TV"; para 117.1: "failed to commence operations of the Broadcasting Service specified in the Licence within the specified period"; para 144.1: "to direct Siyaya to desist from further contravention"; last page: "Date: 24 July 2024"
The committee found that Siyaya had not started its licensed TV service in the required time. It recommended that ICASA order Siyaya to stop breaking the rules and hand in a plan to fix this.
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Published 24 July 2024.
Where to look: Title page: "SIYAYA FREE TO AIR TV (PTY) LTD RESPONDENT"; para 4: "On 21 January 2015, ICASA issued a Commercial Subscription Television Broadcasting Service Licence to Siyaya TV"; para 117.1: "failed to commence operations of the Broadcasting Service specified in the Licence within the specified period"; para 144.1: "to direct Siyaya to desist from further contravention"; last page: "Date: 24 July 2024"
The IEC said in August 2026 that Siyaya had not sent in its own declaration of its April to June 2026 gift to ActionSA. It said it had issued a direction, which is a formal order.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 27 August 2026.
Where to look: "ActionSA – R5.5 million", paragraph 2: "While ActionSA has made its declaration, the corresponding declaration by the donor remains outstanding. The Commission has accordingly issued the necessary direction"
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