South Africa’s .ZA Domain Names Surpass 1.3 Million Mark

South Africa Surpasses 1.3 Million Commercial .ZA Domain Registrations

South Africa has now exceeded 1.3 million commercially-registered .ZA domain names, demonstrating significant growth in the country’s internet ecosystem. This was revealed by Molehe Wesi, CEO of the .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), during an ITWeb TV interview.

ZADNA, which is an entity of the communications ministry, is tasked with managing domain namespace policies for both commercial and non-commercial second-level domains. This includes the accreditation of registries and registrars as per the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act. ZADNA’s commercial registry partner, ZARC, manages domains such as co.za, net.za, org.za, and web.za.

Wesi explained that ZADNA is focusing on becoming a “smart regulator” by re-engineering processes internally to exceed expectations and optimize operations. He highlighted the challenge of website spoofing and how ZADNA is dealing with such issues, especially during the electoral period. The authority also assists in prohibiting domain misuse but does not directly deal with misinformation or disinformation. Instead, most queries related to these issues are referred to sister entities like ICASA and the Film and Publication Board.

Although the exact number of non-commercial domain names is unclear, Wesi noted that school.za and ac.za domains are quite prominent, with the former emerging from ZADNA’s initiatives to register schools and provide learners with email addresses. He emphasized the importance of registering more schools, particularly those in quintiles one to three, which constitute the majority of the school population.

Wesi also mentioned the need for increased capacity on the regulatory and PR/marketing sides of ZADNA to meet growing demands and to engage a broader population, particularly individuals aged 16 to 64 years. He believes that understanding the benefits of owning a .za domain name is crucial for future leaders and businesses.

In summary, ZADNA’s efforts to manage and grow South Africa’s domain name space, combined with its aim to become a smart regulator and address challenges like website spoofing, illustrate the organization’s commitment to enhancing the country’s internet ecosystem.