In a bid to simplify the process of doing business with the State, government will launch its Central Supplier Database (CSD) – a catalogue of all information related to companies that supply products or services to the State.

The CSD, which would be launched by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene with the support of the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury, in East London, on September 1, would look to reduce the exchange of compliance documents in paper form, eliminate multiple registrations with different organs of State and, ultimately, reduce the cost for both business and government by enabling electronic registration and verification processes.

The database would also interface with the South African Revenue Service to verify tax clearance certificates, as well as with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission for business registration and business ownership information.

The CSD will furthermore verify supplier information with the register for tender defaulters and the database of restricted suppliers.

Prospective suppliers would be able to self-register on the CSD website from September 1.