What the CSD is
The Central Supplier Database is run by National Treasury and is the single source of supplier information for all spheres of government. Register once and national departments, provinces, municipalities and state entities can find and verify you.
It's free. You register yourself at secure.csd.gov.za. Some consultants charge to do it for you, which is optional, but the registration itself costs nothing.
What you need before you start
- ID numbers of all directors or members.
- Your CIPC company registration number (if you're a registered company).
- Your SARS income tax reference number, with your tax affairs in order.
- A business bank account in the exact registered name of your business, not a personal account.
- Your B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit. Businesses with annual turnover of R10 million or less can generally use a sworn affidavit.
- An email address and cellphone number for one-time PIN verification.
The registration steps
- Create your user account on secure.csd.gov.za and verify it with the OTP.
- Choose your supplier type (company, close corporation, sole proprietor, and so on).
- Capture your details: identification, address, contacts, bank account, tax, directors, the goods and services you supply, and B-BBEE status.
- Submit. The system checks your details against CIPC, SARS, Home Affairs and your bank.
- You receive your supplier number, which starts with MAAA, plus a unique registration reference.
Bank verification can take a few working days, so you may see your supplier number before your profile shows as fully verified.
Keep it active
- Your tax status is checked with SARS in real time. If SARS flags an issue, fix it with SARS, then refresh your tax status on the CSD.
- Update your bank, address or director details on the CSD whenever they change.
- Choose your commodities carefully. Buyers search the CSD by what suppliers offer when looking for quotes.
- Download your CSD summary report. Many RFQs ask for it as proof of registration.
Some buyers need an extra registration
A few provinces and entities keep their own supplier database on top of the CSD. The Western Cape, for example, requires suppliers to be registered on both the CSD and its own Western Cape Supplier Evidence Bank. Check the RFQ for any extra registration it asks for.
Requirements can change. The CSD website and the RFQ document are always the final word.