How to Register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) in South Africa

What is the Central Supplier Database (CSD)?

The CSD is a single, central database maintained by National Treasury that holds key information about every organisation, institution and individual that supplies goods or services to government. It was introduced so that all organs of state — national and provincial departments, municipalities and many public entities — source supplier information from one verified place instead of each keeping its own supplier list. When you register, the CSD links to other government systems and pulls through your verified company, tax, identity and banking information, so departments do not have to re-check the basics every time you bid. You register once, and your record is then available to every organ of state that uses the CSD.

Do I have to register on the CSD to do business with government?

In practice, yes. Organs of state are required to source suppliers from the CSD, so you need to be registered and hold a supplier number before a department or municipality can award you a tender or pay you — even for small quotations and once-off orders. The CSD itself describes registration as a free, electronic self-registration that signals your interest in doing business with government. There is no charge to register on the official site (secure.csd.gov.za). Private agencies offer to register on your behalf for a fee, but this is optional — the official process is designed to be completed yourself.

What do I need before I start CSD registration?

Have these ready so you can complete the registration in one sitting: your entity's identification number (company/CC registration number from CIPC, a trust number, or your South African ID number if you trade as an individual/sole proprietor); your income tax reference number registered with SARS; your business bank account details and a bank confirmation letter, ideally less than three months old, with the account name matching your registered entity name; the full names and ID numbers of all directors, members or trustees; your B-BBEE certificate or a sworn B-BBEE affidavit (Exempted Micro Enterprises, generally with annual turnover under R10 million, and majority black-owned qualifying small enterprises use a sworn affidavit rather than a rated certificate); a working email address and a South African cellphone number (these receive your account activation link and the one-time PIN); and the commodities (goods/services) you supply plus the areas you can deliver to. For construction work you may also need your CIDB registration details.

How do I register on secure.csd.gov.za?

Registration happens in two stages on the official portal at secure.csd.gov.za. First you create a user account with your basic details, activate it through a link emailed to you, and confirm your identity with a one-time PIN (OTP) sent by SMS. Then you log in and complete your supplier profile under Supplier Details > Add Supplier, working through each tab — identification, contact details, address, industry classification, directors/members, bank account, tax, B-BBEE, and commodities. Once every required field is complete you submit from the Overview tab. The detailed steps are listed below in the how-to section. Make sure all details exactly match your official records (CIPC, SARS, Home Affairs and your bank), because the CSD checks them automatically and mismatches are the main cause of delays.

What is a CSD (MAAA) supplier number, and how do I get my CSD report?

When you submit your registration, the CSD generates your unique supplier number, which starts with the letters MAAA followed by digits, along with a 36-digit Unique Registration Reference Number. This MAAA number is what you quote on tender submissions, quotations and invoices to government. The supplier number is created almost immediately, but your record only shows as fully "verified" once your bank and tax checks have passed. To prove your status when bidding, log in and download your CSD Registration Report (often called the MAAA report or supplier report). It shows your supplier number, registration status, tax compliance status and B-BBEE level — attach a current copy to your tender documents, as procuring officers check it against the live CSD record.

How does the CSD verify my tax, bank, company and director details?

The CSD does not just store what you type — it cross-checks your information automatically with other government systems. Your company/CC registration is verified with CIPC, your director and member ID numbers with the Department of Home Affairs, your tax position with SARS, and your bank account with your bank. For tax, the CSD links to SARS using your income tax reference number and reflects your live tax compliance status on your CSD record. SARS discontinued the old paper Tax Clearance Certificate and replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system, so you generally do not upload any tax certificate — instead you must be tax compliant on SARS eFiling (all returns filed, and no outstanding debt or a payment arrangement in place). If SARS shows you as non-compliant, your CSD tax status will show the same, which can block you from being awarded a tender. Bank verification is the step that most often takes time, because the CSD confirms your account directly with the bank.

How long does CSD registration take?

If you have all your documents and details ready, capturing the registration itself usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes in one online session, and your MAAA supplier number is issued almost immediately on submission. Becoming fully verified takes longer because of the back-end checks: bank account verification can take up to around four working days (a timeframe the CSD itself notes), and tax and identity checks update over a similar period. Where everything matches your official records, you can be fully verified within a few working days. Where there is a mismatch — for example a bank account in a slightly different name, or outstanding SARS returns — verification can stretch out to two or three weeks while you correct the underlying records. The fix usually lies with the source (your bank, SARS or CIPC), not the CSD.

What are the most common CSD registration errors, and how do I fix them?

The most frequent problems are: (1) Bank account not verifying — usually because the account name does not exactly match your registered entity name, the account is very new, or the branch/account number was captured incorrectly; fix it with your bank and re-check the bank details on the CSD. (2) Director/ID mismatch with Home Affairs — a misspelt name or wrong ID number; correct it to match the ID document exactly. (3) Company details not matching CIPC — confirm your registered name and registration number on CIPC and capture them identically. (4) Tax non-compliant status — file outstanding returns and settle or arrange any debt on SARS eFiling, then allow the CSD to refresh (often within 24 to 48 hours). (5) OTP or activation email not arriving — check the cellphone number and email you captured, look in spam, and request the OTP again. When unsure, use the support/help options on secure.csd.gov.za rather than guessing, as the correction almost always has to happen at the source system first.

Step by step

1. Go to the official CSD portal and click Register. Open secure.csd.gov.za in your browser and select Register. Use only this official site — registration is free here.
2. Create your user account. Capture your name, email address, South African cellphone number and identification details, and choose your account type. This account is the login you will use to manage your supplier record.
3. Activate your account and verify with an OTP. Click the activation link emailed to you, then request and enter the one-time PIN (OTP) sent by SMS to confirm your contact details.
4. Log in and start your supplier profile. Sign in and go to Supplier Details > Add Supplier to begin capturing your business information across the tabs.
5. Complete the identification tab. Select your entity type and enter your CIPC company/CC registration number, trust number, or your South African ID number if you trade as an individual or sole proprietor. This must match your official records exactly.
6. Capture contact and address details. Enter your preferred contact name, email, cellphone and landline, plus your full physical and postal address (country, province, municipality, city, suburb, ward and postal code).
7. Add your industry classification and commodities. Select the industry classification and list the goods and services you supply, along with the areas (delivery locations) you can serve. Be specific, as departments search the CSD by commodity.
8. Capture directors, members or trustees. Add the full names and ID numbers of every director, member or trustee. These are verified with the Department of Home Affairs, so enter them exactly as on each ID document.
9. Enter your bank account details. Capture your business bank account name, branch and account number exactly as held by your bank. Account-name mismatches are the top cause of failed verification.
10. Add tax and B-BBEE information. Enter your SARS income tax reference number so the CSD can verify your tax compliance status, and capture your B-BBEE details (rated certificate or sworn affidavit). Make sure you are tax compliant on SARS eFiling.
11. Add accreditations if they apply. If relevant to your work, add accreditations such as CIDB (for construction tenders), SETA or SANAS. Note that CIDB registration is a separate process from the CSD.
12. Review the Overview tab and submit. Open the Overview/summary tab, confirm every required section is complete and accurate, then submit your registration.
13. Record your MAAA number and download your CSD report. Note the supplier number (starting with MAAA) and 36-digit Unique Registration Reference Number that are issued on submission. Allow bank and tax verification to complete, then download your CSD Registration (MAAA) report to attach to tender submissions.

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