E48-32 DSTV software upgrade forces hardware upgrade

E48-32 suddenly received on all and ONLY SABC channels. Other channels perfectly fine.. This on BOTH my Home and Holiday Home Explora decoders - happening simultaneously two days ago - what are the chances ???

Call Center can only say they have become faulty simultaneously. Its just Bad luck... I must go and buy new ones. I SMELL A RAT. This has been hard coded into these decoders (Especially the old Exploras) A little bit of Googling and there is a large spike in these complaints. Multichoice trying to force us to upgrade decoders ..... Unacceptable!!!