How to Find Government Tenders in South Africa (eTender Portal & More)

Finding the right government tenders to bid on is the first step to growing your business through public procurement. In South Africa, most government tenders are published on the eTender Portal—but there are other sources you should check too.

Here's how to find tenders, set up alerts, and filter opportunities that are actually worth pursuing.

The eTender Portal: your main source

The National Treasury eTender Portal is the official platform for South African government procurement. Most national departments, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and many municipalities publish their tenders here.

How to search the eTender Portal

1. Visit etenders.gov.za
2. Click "Search Tenders" and use filters:
   • Keywords: Search by industry, product, or service (e.g., "construction", "IT services", "stationery")
   • Category: Filter by procurement category (goods, services, construction)
   • Location: Filter by province or municipality
   • Closing date: See tenders closing soon or with more time to prepare
3. Download tender documents by clicking on the tender reference number. Read the full document before deciding to bid.

Set up email alerts on eTender

Don't rely on manual searches. Set up email alerts so you're notified when new tenders matching your criteria are published:

1. Register for a free account on etenders.gov.za
2. Go to "My Alerts" and create a new alert with your keywords and filters
3. Choose how often you want emails (daily or weekly)

This ensures you never miss a relevant tender—and gives you maximum time to prepare a strong bid.

Other sources for South African government tenders

While eTender is the main portal, not all government entities publish there. Check these additional sources:

Provincial tender portals

Many provinces have their own tender portals for provincial departments and agencies:

• Western Cape: Western Cape Government Tenders
• Gauteng: Tenders often published on individual department websites
• KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, etc.: Check provincial government websites and department pages

Municipal tender bulletins

Municipalities publish tenders on their own websites, in local newspapers, and sometimes on the eTender Portal. If you're targeting a specific city or town, bookmark their procurement page and check weekly.

State-owned enterprises (SOEs)

SOEs like Eskom, Transnet, Prasa, and SAA publish tenders on their own websites as well as eTender. Visit their procurement pages directly for the most complete list.

Government Gazette

Larger tenders (especially for infrastructure and construction) are often advertised in the Government Gazette. You can access it online or subscribe to receive updates.

How to evaluate whether a tender is worth bidding on

Not every tender is a good fit. Before you commit time and resources, ask yourself:

• Do we meet the mandatory requirements? If the tender requires specific certifications, experience, or B-BBEE levels you don't have, you'll be disqualified. Check what makes a bid responsive before you start.
• Do we have time to prepare? Most tenders close 2-4 weeks after publication. If there's a compulsory briefing, factor that in. Rushing leads to mistakes—and mistakes lead to disqualification. See common tender mistakes to avoid.
• Can we deliver on the contract? Only bid if you have the capacity, skills, and resources to deliver. Winning a tender you can't fulfill damages your reputation and future opportunities.
• Is the contract value worth the effort? Tendering takes time. Make sure the contract size justifies the work required to prepare a compliant bid.

Key dates and deadlines to note

When you find a tender you want to pursue, immediately note these dates:

• Compulsory briefing date and time (if required)—attendance is mandatory. Missing it means automatic disqualification.
• Closing date and time—late submissions are never accepted. Plan to submit at least 24 hours early in case of technical issues.
• Clarification deadline—if you have questions about the tender, submit them before the clarification deadline (usually a week before closing).

Use a tender calendar or project management tool to track these dates for every tender you're working on.

Checklist: before you download and bid

• ☑ Read the full tender document—don't just skim the cover page
• ☑ Check mandatory requirements—do you meet every one? See documents required for government tenders
• ☑ Check your B-BBEE status—will you get enough preference points to be competitive? Learn more about B-BBEE certificates
• ☑ Note all key dates—briefing, clarifications, closing time
• ☑ Assess your capacity to deliver—can you actually do the work if you win?

Tips for finding the right tenders faster

• Use specific keywords: Instead of "construction", try "electrical installation" or "building maintenance"
• Filter by tender value: Focus on contracts that match your company size and capacity
• Track your competitors: See which tenders similar businesses are bidding on
• Build relationships with procurement officers: Attend industry events and briefing sessions to network and learn about upcoming opportunities

What to do after you find a tender

1. Download the full tender pack (including specifications, SBD forms, and all annexures)
2. Read the entire document carefully—especially the mandatory requirements section
3. Create a compliance checklist—list every document, form, and requirement. See how to check tender compliance before you submit
4. Attend the compulsory briefing (if required)
5. Prepare your response with enough time to review before closing

Resources for finding government tenders

• National Treasury eTender Portal – Main source for SA government tenders
• National Treasury – Procurement guidelines and policies
• Provincial and municipal websites – Check your local government's procurement page
• SOE websites – Eskom, Transnet, Prasa, SAA procurement portals

Bottom line

The eTender Portal is your main source for government tenders in South Africa, but don't ignore provincial, municipal, and SOE portals. Set up email alerts so you never miss opportunities, and always read the full tender document before deciding to bid.

Finding tenders is only the first step—winning them requires careful compliance checking, complete documentation, and a well-prepared response. Make sure you have the capacity to deliver before you commit.