Fined unfairly when abroad

As a student I bought a TV licence in 1999, thinking I was doing the right thing and following the law. In November of 1999 I immigrated abroad until the end of 2010. I have been fined R6500 for non payment of a licence from 2***. I wasn't even aware that one needed to cancel a licence in 1999 and I now find out that this legislation is found in the Broadcasting legislation Act 4 1999. Please note that this is the same year that I bought a licence so it wasn't in place until later in 1999. I therefore was oblivious of the law/ruling on this and didn't receive a renewal as I had immigrated by then. No one will listen to me even though I can prove through passports and payslips that I was abroad from 1999 until 2010. I wasn't living in SA and find it unreasonable to enforce a law on people when you only made the law after the licence was bought. If someone would just review my case I would appreciate it.