How to Register on the CSD for Tenders (South Africa)

Why CSD registration matters

To do business with South African national, provincial, and local government, suppliers must be listed on the Central Supplier Database (CSD). Registration gives you a unique supplier number (starts with MAAA…) and lets organs of state verify your details (tax, banking, CIPC, etc.) quickly.

What you’ll need before you start

• Company details (legal name, trading name, CIPC registration number if applicable).
• Director/owner info (ID/passport details).
• Tax details (SARS income tax number and—if you have—your Tax Compliance Status PIN).
• Bank account details (account name, number, branch). A recent bank confirmation letter helps.
• Physical & postal addresses, contact emails and phone numbers.
• Commodity categories (UNSPSC) for the goods/services you provide.
• B-BBEE info (certificate or sworn affidavit) if applicable.

Step-by-step: CSD registration

1. Create your user account. Visit the official CSD portal and choose Register. Enter your email, create a strong password, and confirm via OTP.
2. Start a supplier registration. Choose Supplier (company, NPO, or sole proprietor). The system will assign a temporary reference until you’re verified.
3. Complete core profiles. Fill in:
   • Supplier Identification: legal/trading names, CIPC number (if registered), type.
   • Addresses & Contacts: physical, postal, billing; primary contact person.
   • Directors/Members: all required individuals with ID/passport details.
   • Tax: SARS income tax number and TCS PIN if available.
   • Banking: account name, number, branch code. Upload/confirm as requested.
   • Commodities: select UNSPSC codes matching your services/products.
   • B-BBEE (optional but recommended): certificate or affidavit details.
4. Save and validate. Use the CSD Validate buttons to catch missing fields. Fix any errors before submitting.
5. Submit for verification. CSD will automatically attempt validations with external systems (SARS, banks, CIPC). This can take from minutes to a few days depending on data quality and availability.
6. Receive your CSD supplier number. Once your profile passes checks, you’ll get a supplier number (e.g. MAAA1234567) and can download a CSD Summary Report to attach to tender submissions.

Keeping your CSD compliant

• Update changes (banking, address, directors) immediately and re-validate.
• Maintain tax compliance (SARS TCS PIN up to date).
• Renew B-BBEE certificates/affidavits annually if you use them.
• Review commodities so tenders match your offerings.

Common errors (and fixes)

• Bank verification fails: ensure the account name matches CSD exactly, the account is active, and your bank letter is recent (usually <3 months).
• Tax validation error: confirm your SARS number is correct and your TCS PIN is valid and not expired.
• Director mismatch: check ID numbers, spellings, and that your CIPC director list is current.
• Locked out/OTP issues: verify the email inbox/spam and that your CSD user isn’t suspended after too many attempts.

FAQs

Do sole proprietors need CSD? Yes—register as an individual/sole proprietor.

Is registration free? Yes. Be wary of third parties charging large fees for “CSD registration.”

How long does verification take? Often same-day if details match, but it can take longer while banks/SARS respond.

Next steps

• Download your CSD Summary Report from your profile for tender submissions.
• Bookmark tenders you’re interested in and track deadlines from your dashboard.