13 firms struck off the cidb register. How to check a contractor

Thirteen construction companies have been removed from the Construction Industry Development Board's (cidb) National Register of Contractors after the board found misrepresentation in their applications to upgrade their grades, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced on Tuesday 27 October (SAnews).

The cidb board took the decision on 15 October 2026 under sections 19(1) and 19(2) of the Construction Industry Development Board Act, which let it remove contractors who breach registration conditions or get a grade through misrepresentation (SAnews).

Which companies were removed from the cidb register?

The government named these 13 contractors (SAnews):

• RTZ Construction and Projects
• Shumani Development
• Magagamela Trade and Projects
• Exxeding Grace
• Yem Yem Projects and Plant Hire
• BBM Khanye Holdings
• Lethabo Africa Engineering
• TMR Industrial Solutions
• Moriel Infrastructure Group (Pty) Ltd
• Salinkata Trading (Pty) Ltd
• King Tar Construction
• Batho Vanhu Construction
• Ithembalenkosi (Pty) Ltd

Their grades ranged from Grade 1 to Grade 9 across different construction categories (SAnews). The finding is about misrepresentation in grading applications. The announcement does not say any of the companies has been charged with a crime.

Why does losing a cidb grade matter?

The cidb grade decides how big and complex a public project a contractor may take on, based on its financial capacity and track record. Without a place on the register, a company can't legally compete for most government construction work (SAnews).

Macpherson said only one contractor was blacklisted between 2002 and June 2024. Since June 2024, more than 75 have been removed, and a full audit of all graded construction companies is under way (SAnews).

What changes for contractors applying for higher grades?

The cidb is adding an extra audit layer for higher-risk applications and for applications to move to higher grades. It will check information directly with banks, public sector clients and other institutions instead of relying only on documents the applicant submits (SAnews).

Where fraud or forgery is found, the cidb says it will refer cases to law enforcement where appropriate, on top of administrative action. The department also wants public sector clients to register their construction projects with the cidb, so contractors' claimed track records can be checked against independent project data (SAnews).

How do you check if a contractor is cidb registered?

Use the cidb's free Contractor Search on its online register. Search by company name or registration number and check that the grade and class of work match the job you're hiring for.

The same cidb portal links to National Treasury's Register for Tender Defaulters, which lists suppliers barred from doing business with the state.

If you're a municipality, school governing body or other public client, the cidb's message is that grading claims should be verified, not taken on trust (SAnews).