What Is the CSD (Central Supplier Database)?
Quick Answer
What Is the CSD (Central Supplier Database)?
The Central Supplier Database (CSD) is the South African government’s single register of approved suppliers. Any business wanting to supply a national or provincial department must be registered on it. Registration is free at secure.csd.gov.za and links your tax, bank and CIPC details automatically.
What this means in plain language
Before the CSD, every department kept its own supplier list and its own paperwork. Now one registration feeds them all – and it verifies your tax status, bank account and directors automatically against SARS, the banks and CIPC.
Your CSD registration produces a registration report (the “MAAA number”) that tenders ask for. Keep the underlying data current – a failed automatic verification blocks you at the gate.
Who this applies to
- Any business that wants government departments as customers
- Suppliers asked for a “CSD report” or MAAA number
Step by step
- Gather: CIPC number, SARS tax number, business bank account details, director IDs.
- Register at secure.csd.gov.za and create your supplier profile.
- Capture banking and tax details – the system verifies them automatically.
- Fix any failed verifications (usually a name mismatch with the bank or SARS).
- Download your registration report with the MAAA number for tender submissions.
What it costs
| Item | Cost / detail |
|---|---|
| CSD registration | Free |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Bank account name not exactly matching the CIPC-registered name – automatic verification fails.
- Registering but never updating – expired tax status or changed bank details fail silently.
- Paying anyone to “register you on the database” – it is free and self-service.
A South African example
A Thohoyandou printing business registers on the CSD in one afternoon. The only hiccup: the bank account says “Venda Print” but CIPC says “Venda Print (Pty) Ltd”. One bank letter fixes the mismatch and the MAAA number arrives.
Related questions
- How Do I Register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD)?
- What Is B-BBEE and What Level Is My Business?
- Tenders, B-BBEE and CSD: How to Win Government and Corporate Work
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CSD registration compulsory?
Yes, for supplying national and provincial government departments. Most municipalities and state entities use it too. For purely private-sector work it is not required – but corporates increasingly ask for it.
How much does CSD registration cost?
Nothing. Registration at secure.csd.gov.za is free and self-service. Be wary of agents charging to “get you on the database”.
Why does my CSD verification keep failing?
Almost always a data mismatch: the bank account name differs from the CIPC name, the tax number is not linked correctly, or a director’s ID does not match Home Affairs records. Fix the source record, not the CSD entry.
Official sources
About BizAnswers: BizAnswers is a privately owned South African company – not a government department. Our guides are free to read and show you how to do things yourself through official channels. If you would rather have the paperwork handled for you, we assist individuals and businesses with filing their South African tax returns and staying compliant, which is a paid service, not a free government service. Contact us for help.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.
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