CSD Registration in South Africa
The Central Supplier Database is run by National Treasury. Every supplier to government has to be on it. We handle the registration and the supporting documents.
Cost:R540
Timeframe: 10 working days
For:South African businesses bidding for government tenders or supplying state entities
When you need to register on the CSD
Every business that wants to supply goods or services to a South African government department, municipality, SOE, or organ of state has to be on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database. The buyer checks your CSD profile before they can pay you. No CSD profile, no payment.
- You’re bidding for a government tender and need to be CSD-registered before you can submit
- You’re invoicing a government department, municipality, or SOE for the first time
- You’re an existing supplier whose CSD profile has expired or fallen out of compliance
- You sell to schools, hospitals, or any state organ that requires CSD verification
CSD registration is free with National Treasury, they don’t charge a registration fee. The R540 covers Govchain handling the application, sorting your tax compliance check, and getting through the bank verification step. Most companies that try to do CSD themselves get stuck on one of those three.
What’s included
- Submission of your CSD application to National Treasury
- Pre-submission check: tax compliance, banking, and B-BBEE verifications all aligned
- We resolve TCS PIN issues that block CSD verification (separate fee if SARS work is needed)
- Bank confirmation letter guidance
- Your CSD supplier number delivered by email once Treasury verifies
- Annual renewal reminder so your profile doesn’t go inactive
How CSD registration works
You complete the form online. We file with National Treasury and clear the verifications.
Step 1
Tell us your company details, what you supply, and which government buyer you’re registering for.
Step 2
Credit card, EFT, or cash deposit at any ATM.
Step 3
We pre-check your tax compliance, banking, and B-BBEE status, then submit the CSD application.
Step 4
Once Treasury verifies (typically 5 to 10 working days), your CSD supplier number is emailed to you. You can put it on your tender cover sheets.
What you’ll need
- Registered company (or sole proprietor with a tax number)
- Business bank account in the company’s name
- Active Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN with SARS
- Director’s certified ID document
- B-BBEE affidavit or B-BBEE certificate
- Industry / SIC codes for what you supply
Used by companies across South Africa
Over 124,000 small business owners use Govchain. Tender prep, SARS, and CIPC compliance handled in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about CSD Registration in South Africa
What is the CSD?
The Central Supplier Database (CSD) is run by National Treasury. It’s the single supplier register that all government departments, municipalities, and state-owned entities use to verify suppliers before paying them. Every business that wants to supply government has to be on it.
Is CSD registration mandatory for tender bids?
Yes. You can’t submit a tender bid to a national or provincial government department, a municipality, or most SOEs without an active CSD profile. The tender documents will ask for your CSD supplier number on the cover page. No CSD number, no bid.
How much does CSD registration cost?
R540 once-off through Govchain. National Treasury doesn’t charge a registration fee, the CSD itself is free. The R540 covers preparing the application, running the pre-checks (tax, banking, B-BBEE), submitting it, and resolving the verification steps that most often get rejected.
How long does CSD registration take?
Around 10 working days from when we have all your documents. The bottleneck is usually National Treasury verifying your tax compliance with SARS, which can take a few days on its own. We keep you updated if it runs longer.
Why does CSD registration get rejected?
Three things cause most rejections: no active TCS PIN with SARS (or one that has expired), banking details that don’t match what your bank confirms, or missing B-BBEE proof. We pre-check all three before submission so the application doesn’t bounce.
Do I need a Tax Clearance Certificate to register on the CSD?
You need an active Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN with SARS, which is the modern version of the tax clearance certificate. National Treasury verifies it directly with SARS during CSD verification. If you don’t have one yet, we can sort it as part of the process. See Tax Clearance Certificate for the standalone service.
Do I need a B-BBEE certificate or affidavit?
Yes. CSD requires you to upload your B-BBEE status. Companies with turnover under R10 million can use a free B-BBEE affidavit. Larger companies need a B-BBEE certificate from a verified rating agency. Govchain provides the B-BBEE affidavit free as a separate service.
How often do I need to update my CSD profile?
Your CSD profile has to be kept current. Banking details, directors, address, B-BBEE status, and tax compliance must all reflect reality. Most departments check that the profile is active before paying you. Plan to log in at least quarterly to refresh details and confirm tax compliance is still green.
Can I register on the CSD as a sole proprietor?
Yes. CSD allows sole proprietors and freelancers, trusts, partnerships, and registered companies. The verification requirements are similar across all types: identity, tax compliance, banking, and B-BBEE.
What’s the difference between CSD and CIPC?
CIPC is where you register your company as a legal entity (you get a company number). CSD is where you register that company as a supplier to government (you get a CSD supplier number). You need CIPC registration first, then you register that company on CSD to bid for tenders. They’re separate registrations with different agencies.
How long is a CSD profile valid?
Indefinitely, as long as you keep it current. National Treasury doesn’t require annual renewal of the registration itself, but compliance data (tax, banking, B-BBEE) is verified in real time on every tender. If any of those go stale, the profile shows as inactive and you can’t bid until they’re refreshed.
Can a foreign-owned company register on the CSD?
Yes, as long as the company is registered with CIPC in South Africa and has a SARS tax number. National Treasury treats it the same as any other South African supplier. Foreign directors are fine.
What is a CSD supplier number?
A unique reference number issued by National Treasury once your CSD registration is verified. It typically starts with MAAA for individuals or MAAB for companies, followed by digits. The number goes on every tender cover sheet and invoice you submit to government.
Related terms and definitions
Plain-language definitions of the forms, numbers, and acronyms that come up when registering and running a csd registration in south africa.
Register on the CSD
Required for any business supplying government in South Africa. We handle the application, the verifications, and the supporting documents.
Last reviewed: 12 May 2026. Govchain reviews this page against current CIPC and SARS rules every quarter.