How to find government tenders in South Africa
Updated 26 Oct 2026 · 3 minute read
National Treasury's eTenders portal is the official place where national and provincial departments, many municipalities and state companies publish tenders. Some municipalities and state companies also post on their own websites.
Ways to find tenders
- eTenders (etenders.gov.za): the official portal. Free, but you must search it yourself.
- Government Tender Bulletin and newspapers: still used for some notices.
- Municipal and state company websites: some tenders only appear there.
- Tender Sorted: every open eTenders tender, updated every 30 minutes, matched to your province and type of work, sent to your email.
Search tips
- Search by what you do ("cleaning", "security", "road maintenance"), not just by department.
- Filter by your province, or the areas you can really deliver to.
- Look at the closing date first: you need time to get documents ready.
- Check for a compulsory briefing session: if you miss it, you cannot bid.
Are you ready to bid?
Answer a few questions and see which papers you still need. Free, 1 minute.
Questions
Are government tenders free to view?
Yes. Tenders on eTenders are free to view and download. Some buyers charge a small fee for printed documents.
How often are new tenders published?
Every working day. Tender Sorted checks eTenders every 30 minutes.
Rules and websites change. Always check the official source: eTenders (National Treasury).
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