Where To Get Tenders In South Africa: The Complete Guide

If you’re asking where to get tenders in South Africa, you’re not alone. Between government portals, state-owned companies, corporate supplier lists, and donor-funded projects, the opportunities are real, if you know where to look and how to qualify fast. This guide breaks down the exact places to find tenders, how to stay compliant, and the daily/weekly routines that help South African SMEs and suppliers build a consistent pipeline. You’ll get practical examples, recent trends, and step-by-step advice tailored to local realities. And when you’re ready to shortcut the search, you can use eTender SA to see verified tenders in one place.

Understand The Tender Landscape In South Africa

Before you decide where to get tenders, get clear on how procurement works in South Africa. A little context helps you target the right portals, and avoid wasting time on mismatched opportunities.

Public Vs Private Procurement

Public sector: All spheres of government (national, provincial, municipal) and state-owned companies (SOCs) must follow the PFMA/MFMA frameworks and Preferential Procurement Regulations. Notices are public, and awards are auditable. You’ll see open tenders, RFQs, RFPs, and occasionally transversal contracts via National Treasury or SITA.
Private sector: Corporates and large groups follow internal procurement policies. Opportunities are often restricted to registered vendors or invited panels. You’ll still see open RFPs, but many awards go to vetted suppliers through supplier portals, vendor master files, or framework agreements.

Tip: Build a dual-track pipeline, public tenders for transparency and volume: private tenders for speed and relationship-based wins.

Tender Types And Value Thresholds

RFQ (Request for Quotation): Typically for lower values with shorter turnaround (sometimes 3–7 working days). Common at municipal and SOC level.
RFP/RFI (Request for Proposal/Information): Used for complex solutions (ICT, consulting, engineering). Expect detailed technical responses and presentations.
Open Tender/Competitive Bid: Advertised publicly with clear closing dates and compulsory criteria. Often over set value thresholds.
Transversal Contracts/Frameworks: Central contracts used by multiple departments (for example, ICT equipment via SITA, stationery via Treasury’s transversal contracts). Getting onto these can mean steady orders without rebidding each time.

While specific numeric thresholds are set by each organ of state’s supply chain policy (aligned to national regulations), the pattern is consistent: lower value = RFQ, higher value/complexity = formal tender. Read the bid docs for exact thresholds and pre-qualifications (B-BBEE level, EME/QSE status, local content, CIDB grading, etc.).

Panels, Frameworks, And Preferred Supplier Lists

Panels: Pre-approved lists for recurring services (legal, audit, maintenance, training, ICT development). Once on the panel, you’re invited to quote for assignments without starting from scratch.
Framework Agreements: Long-term price and service agreements. Orders flow as needed, which stabilizes cash flow.
Preferred Supplier Lists: Common in corporates and facilities management. Get onboarded once: then receive RFQs by email or portal.

How to get on: Watch for “panel establishment” or “framework” bids, and register on corporate supplier portals with complete profiles (B-BBEE, tax status, references).

Start With The Essentials: Registrations And Compliance

You can’t win if you’re not compliant. Save future stress by getting these sorted up front.

Central Supplier Database (CSD) And MAAA Number

Register at csd.gov.za with your company details, banking confirmation, tax number, and director info.
The CSD issues your MAAA supplier number, which many state entities require on submissions.
Keep it current: Update contact details, tax status, and bank changes immediately or you’ll be marked non-responsive.

Practical example: A cleaning services SME in Cape Town missed an award because their bank verification lapsed on CSD. A monthly 5-minute check would’ve saved a 12-month contract.

Tax Compliance Status, B-BBEE, And CIPC

SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS): Generate a TCS PIN: most portals and bid forms will verify this online.
B-BBEE: If you’re an EME (R10m or less) or QSE (R10–R50m), you may use a sworn affidavit if you meet ownership thresholds: otherwise, get a B-BBEE certificate from a SANAS-accredited agency. Many tenders set minimum levels or use B-BBEE for scoring.
CIPC: Ensure company registration is active and annual returns are filed. Misaligned director details between CIPC and CSD are a frequent reason for disqualification.

Sector Certifications: CIDB, NHBRC, COIDA, SAPS Clearance

CIDB: Mandatory for construction-related works contracts. Your grading (e.g., 2GB, 4CE) dictates the maximum tender value you can chase.
NHBRC: Required for home building projects: some municipalities and housing departments won’t consider you without it.
COIDA (Compensation Fund) Letter of Good Standing: Often compulsory for works and service contracts involving site work.
SAPS Clearance: Certain entities ask for criminal record clearance for key personnel, especially in security and cash-handling.

Checklist to keep handy:

CSD active + MAAA
TCS PIN valid
B-BBEE affidavit/certificate
CIPC in good standing
Relevant sector registrations (CIDB/NHBRC)
COIDA LOGS
ID docs, proof of address, bank letter (less than 3 months)
Company policies: safety, environmental, quality (often score you points)

Government Tender Portals You Should Bookmark

When you’re figuring out where to get tenders from government, these are your primary sources.

National Treasury eTender Publication Portal

URL: https://www.etenders.gov.za (sometimes referred to as the eTender Publication Portal).
What you’ll find: All national and many provincial/municipal tenders, corrigenda, briefing details, and awarded bids.
How to use it well:
Create a free account and save searches by category (e.g., cleaning, catering, ICT hardware).
Watch for “compulsory briefing” tags, missing these disqualifies you.
Open the attachments: addenda often change closing dates or specs.

Provincial And Municipal Portals

Some provinces and metros mirror notices on their own sites. Examples include:

Gauteng, Western Cape, KZN provincial portals and departmental pages (Health, Education, Transport)
City of Johannesburg, City of Cape Town, eThekwini, Tshwane
Municipal tender pages and official notice boards: smaller municipalities still rely on PDFs and newspaper adverts.

Tip: If a notice appears on both the provincial site and the Treasury portal, follow the instructions on the bid document itself (that’s the controlling source).

State-Owned Companies: Eskom, Transnet, PRASA, SANRAL And More

Eskom: Eskom Tender Bulletin lists generation, transmission, facilities, and services contracts.
Transnet: Uses its eTenders portal for freight rail, ports, pipelines, and ICT.
PRASA: Regular RFQs for security, cleaning, station upgrades, rolling stock maintenance.
SANRAL: Major roadworks, routine maintenance, professional services. Requires appropriate CIDB grading and often JV capacity.
Others to watch: ACSA (airports), Telkom, SABC, Rand Water, Umgeni Water, DBSA, NHLS.

These SOCs often run supplier development components, great for SMEs with niche skills.

Tender Bulletins, Gazette Notices, And Official Publications

The National Tender Bulletin and provincial gazettes publish legal notices, bid awards, and cancellations.
Sector bulletins (e.g., construction, mining) and accredited newspapers still carry some notices, especially for smaller municipalities.
Use these for verification: If you receive a dubious WhatsApp tender, check whether the reference exists in an official bulletin or on the eTender portal.

Private Sector And NGO Opportunities

A lot of SMEs overlook private and development-funded work when searching where to get tenders. These streams can be quicker to award and renew.

Corporate Supplier Portals And Vendor Onboarding

Many corporates only issue RFQs to approved vendors. Register on their supplier portals with full documentation, banking, B-BBEE, and references.
Examples: Banks (Standard Bank, FNB), retailers (Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Massmart), telecoms (Vodacom, MTN), facilities managers (Bidvest Facilities Management), and property groups (Growthpoint, Redefine).
Practical tip: After registering, follow up with procurement and category managers on LinkedIn. Ask about upcoming panels and transversal needs.

Mining, Energy, Retail, And Facilities Management

Mining and energy: Majors and IPPs run vendor days and community supplier programmes near operations. Look for subcontracting in maintenance, civils, logistics, catering, PPE, and security.
Retail/FM: Store fit-outs, HVAC, repairs, cleaning, and landscaping are often bought regionally with short RFQ cycles, ideal for SMEs able to mobilize fast.
Example: A Gqeberha-based HVAC SME won recurring service work by getting onto a retailer’s regional vendor list, no public tender, just portal-driven RFQs.

Donors, Development Agencies, And International NGOs

Donor-funded projects publish RFPs via platforms like UNGM (United Nations Global Marketplace), Devex, and EU’s TED, and locally via implementing partners.
In South Africa, watch USAID, Global Fund (via NDoH and implementing agencies), UNICEF, UNDP, GIZ, and large NGOs for health, education, and digital skilling projects.
Compliance: Expect stricter ethics declarations, anti-fraud training, and due diligence checks (beneficial ownership, sanctions screening).

Tender Aggregators, Alerts, And Search Tools

If you’re serious about volume, you need tools. Aggregators collect notices from multiple sources, saving hours each week.

Free Vs Paid Aggregators And How To Evaluate Them

Free: Good for casual browsing, but results can be delayed and filters limited.
Paid: Offer faster alerts, better filtering (location, value, sector), award data, and team features.
Evaluate on:
Coverage (national, provincial, municipal, SOCs, private)
Speed of alerts (hours matter on short RFQs)
Data quality (duplicates removed, documents intact)
Search filters and saved views
Support (local help, onboarding, export)

eTender SA combines verified sources and practical filters for South African SMEs, so you can skip the multi-site grind.

Building Smart Alerts: Keywords, CPV Codes, And Filters

Keywords: Use core terms + synonyms. Example for cleaning: cleaning, hygiene, janitorial, deep clean, contract cleaning, washroom, pest control.
Codes: Some portals use CPV/UNSPSC. If present, add them to alerts for precision.
Filters to refine:
Province/municipality
Entity type (national, SOC, private)
Category (ICT, construction, catering)
Estimated value or required grading (e.g., CIDB 3GB+)
Compulsory briefing required (yes/no)

Pro tip: Create two alert tiers, broad discovery (catch new terms) and narrow strike (exact-fit bids).

Centralizing Searches And Calendar Reminders

Maintain a single pipeline sheet with: opportunity name, entity, closing date, briefing details, value band, fit score, bid owner.
Use calendar blocks: “Daily 20-min alert scan” and “Weekly 90-min pipeline triage.”
Add reminders 48 hours before closing for final checks: forms signed, witness signatures, pricing schedule tallied, envelope labeling, or e-submission confirmation.

Niche And Sector-Specific Sources

Some sectors hide their best opportunities in specialized channels. Here’s where to get tenders when you’re playing in a niche.

ICT And Digital: Frameworks, Panels, And Cloud Marketplaces

SITA: Watch for transversal ICT contracts, software licensing, and services panels supplying multiple departments.
Departmental ICT: Many departments still post ICT RFIs/RFPs on eTender, search by terms like network, SD-WAN, ERP, cybersecurity, data center.
Private enterprise: Vendor programs from Microsoft, AWS, Google, and OEM partner ecosystems lead to subcontracting or joint bids. Cloud marketplaces can generate enterprise leads that convert into formal RFQs.
Tip: Build case studies and CVs of key staff, technical scoring often outweighs price in ICT.

Healthcare And Pharmaceuticals: SAHPRA, Hospitals, And Donors

Provincial health departments and the National Department of Health post tenders for hospital upgrades, equipment, linen, catering, and ICT.
NHLS (National Health Laboratory Service) issues bids for diagnostics, reagents, and maintenance.
SAHPRA occasionally requests services (audits, training, IT): for medicines and devices, ensure regulatory approvals are in place before bidding.
Donor-funded health programs (PEPFAR/Global Fund) route procurement via implementing partners, subscribe to their mailing lists.

Construction And Engineering: Infrastructure Agencies And EPCs

SANRAL, DPWI, provincial roads, and municipal infrastructure units publish a steady flow of civils and maintenance bids.
Energy EPCs and IPPs (renewables, BESS, grid upgrades) subcontract civils, transport, fencing, security, and O&M. Attend bidder conferences to network.
Essentials: Correct CIDB grading, safety file readiness, track record, and plant access (owned or rental agreements).

Professional Services And Training: SETAs And Universities

SETAs (MICT, Services, merSETA, HWSETA, etc.) frequently seek training providers, curriculum design, e-learning, and evaluation services.
Universities and TVET colleges publish RFQs for consulting, research, ICT, facilities, and training. Vendor registration is often mandatory before award.
Tip: For training tenders, prepare SAQA-aligned content samples and facilitator CVs with verified credentials.

Avoiding Scams And Verifying Opportunities

Sadly, the question of where to get tenders also attracts scammers. A few checks keep you safe.

Red Flags, Verification Steps, And Document Checks

Red flags: WhatsApp “awards,” requests to pay a “release” or “vendor” fee, non-gov email domains for public tenders, mismatched logos, or pressure to bypass official submission.
Verify the reference: Search the eTender portal or the entity’s official site for the same bid number and title.
Check documents: Real bid packs include SBD forms, returnable schedules, and clear closing instructions. Poor formatting and odd bank details are big warnings.

Confirming Official Contacts, Briefings, And Site Meetings

Contacts: Public entities use official domains (…@gov.za, …@sanral.co.za, …@eskom.co.za). Call the switchboard to confirm the contact person if unsure.
Briefings/site meetings: If a session is compulsory, it will be listed on the official notice with venue, date, and register process. Scammers often “invent” briefings.
Addenda: Always re-download documents 48–72 hours before closing to catch any changes.

Payments, Deposits, And Secure Submission Channels

Government does not charge to “award” or “unlock” a tender. You may pay a nominal document fee or printing cost, via official channels only.
Submission channels: Follow the bid doc, physical box with labeled envelopes, or e-submission via the stated portal/email. Request a receipt or electronic confirmation.
Banking: Never pay into private accounts for public tenders. If a deposit is legitimate (e.g., refundable site deposit), it will be in the entity’s name and appear in the official pack.

Build A Sustainable Tender Pipeline

Winning once is great. Building a repeatable system is better.

Weekly Search Routine And Lead Qualification

Daily (20–30 min): Scan alerts, shortlist by fit (A/B/C). A = perfect fit and capacity now: B = fits but needs a partner: C = monitor only.
Weekly (90 min): Deep-read A and B bids, extract requirements, book briefings, and assign responsibilities.
Qualification quick test:
Do we meet all compulsory criteria? (CSD, TCS, B-BBEE, sector registrations)
Can we deliver on time, on-site, within budget?
Do we have at least 2 relevant references or CVs to score?

Bid/No-Bid Criteria, Capacity, And Risk

Create a scorecard (0–5) for: technical fit, profitability, capacity, track record, strategic value, and risk.
No-bid when: margins are thin, specs are skewed, or you lack a mandatory credential. Save energy for winnable targets.
Manage capacity: Partner via JVs or subcontracting where allowed. Declare partnerships transparently and align B-BBEE implications.

Reusable Document Library And Compliance Checklist

Build a library: Company profile, organogram, policies (QMS, SHEQ), CVs, reference letters, tax/B-BBEE/CSD docs, proof of resources (plant leases, OEM letters).
Use templates for: Methodology, risk register, project plan, mobilization plan, and pricing cover sheets.
Final 48-hour checklist:
All SBD/returnable forms completed and signed (with witnesses where required)
Pricing schedule consistent and totals verified
Correct envelopes/labels or correct e-portal upload format
Attendance registers attached (if briefing was compulsory)
TCS PIN and CSD MAAA visible

Small habit, big result: Keep a win/loss log with reasons. Patterns will show where to improve (price, references, methodology, or compliance).

Conclusion

Finding where to get tenders in South Africa isn’t one site or one trick, it’s a system. Start with compliance (CSD, TCS, B-BBEE, sector registrations). Bookmark the core public portals, add SOC sites, and don’t sleep on private vendor lists or donor-funded RFPs. Then let technology work for you: set smart alerts, centralize your pipeline, and build a reusable bid library so you can respond fast and accurately.

If you want to save hours each week and see verified opportunities without jumping between dozens of sites, visit eTender SA today. Set up targeted alerts, track deadlines, and focus on winning work, not hunting for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to get tenders in South Africa?

Start with the National Treasury eTender Publication Portal for most government bids, then check provincial/municipal sites and state-owned companies like Eskom, Transnet, PRASA, and SANRAL. Don’t ignore private supplier portals and donor platforms (UNGM, Devex). Tender aggregators can centralize searches so you get tenders faster.

Which official portals should I bookmark to get tenders?

Bookmark: National Treasury eTender (etenders.gov.za), provincial portals (Gauteng, Western Cape, KZN), metros (City of Johannesburg, City of Cape Town, eThekwini), and SOC sites (Eskom, Transnet, SANRAL, PRASA, ACSA). Also scan tender bulletins and provincial gazettes for awards, addenda, and verification.

What compliance do I need before applying for tenders?

Register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) to get your MAAA number, keep your SARS TCS PIN valid, and maintain B-BBEE documentation. Depending on sector, add CIDB, NHBRC, COIDA, and any required clearances. Keep CIPC status active. Out-of-date banking or tax details can disqualify you instantly.

How can I use alerts and aggregators to find where to get tenders faster?

Set keyword- and code-based alerts (CPV/UNSPSC) with filters for sector, province, value band, and compulsory briefings. Paid aggregators typically deliver quicker notifications, deduplicate notices, and include award data. Maintain a single pipeline sheet and calendar reminders to manage deadlines and final compliance checks.

When during the year are there more government tenders?

South Africa’s public financial year runs April to March. Many entities release larger programs in Q1–Q2 after budgets finalize, with additional activity toward year-end as funds are utilized. Lead times vary by sector, so keep alerts active year-round and prioritize bids with compulsory briefings or tight RFQ cycles.

Can foreign companies bid on South African tenders?

Yes, many tenders allow foreign bidders, but local content rules, B-BBEE scoring, and compliance (CSD registration supports foreign entities) affect competitiveness. Some bids prefer or require local partnerships or manufacturing. Forming a JV with a compliant local partner can improve scoring and delivery capability.