Government departments and public entities are required to pay valid invoices within thirty days of receipt. In practice late payment is common, and it is one of the main reasons small suppliers avoid public work despite the demand. Knowing the rule and the escalation route is what turns an indefinite wait into a process.
Three things determine whether you get paid on time.
Make the invoice unarguably valid
The clock starts on receipt of a valid invoice, which means the correct order number, the correct entity details, matching banking details and the required supporting documents.
Most delays are caused by an invoice that failed validation rather than by a refusal to pay. Confirm exactly what that department requires before submitting the first one, and get written confirmation that the invoice was received.
Know the escalation route
Start with the department’s supply chain management unit and the official who placed the order. Escalate in writing to the chief financial officer, then the accounting officer of the department.
Beyond that, complaints about non-payment can be raised with National Treasury, and the Public Protector considers maladministration complaints. Keep every reference number and date, because escalation depends on a documented trail.
Protect your cash while you wait
Never accept a public contract larger than you can fund through a ninety-day wait, however attractive the order. This is the single most common way small suppliers fail while holding good contracts.
Purchase order finance against a confirmed government order is a legitimate option, and our guide to financing a contract you have won covers what lenders assess and what it costs.
Get the compliance right first
You cannot be paid at all without central supplier registration, current annual returns at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, tax compliance and banking details matching the registered entity.
A mismatch between your banking details and your registration is a frequent cause of held payments, and departments verify banking independently because fraudulent detail changes are a known risk. Confirm any change through a channel other than email.
Frequently asked questions
How long does government have to pay?
Thirty days from receipt of a valid invoice. The word valid is what most disputes turn on.
Why are payments delayed?
Usually invoice validation: wrong order number, mismatched entity or banking details, or missing supporting documents.
Where do I escalate?
Supply chain management, then the chief financial officer and accounting officer, then National Treasury or the Public Protector.
How do I protect my cash flow?
Never accept a contract larger than you can fund through a long wait, and consider purchase order finance against the confirmed order.
What stops payment entirely?
Missing supplier registration, lapsed annual returns, tax non-compliance, or banking details not matching the registered entity.
Further reading
Originally published in February 2018. Updated September 2026 into practical guidance on the thirty-day payment rule for public sector suppliers.
