The main South African domain extensions are .co.za for businesses, .org.za for non-profits, .net.za for network-related organisations, .web.za as a general alternative, plus .africa and the city domains .capetown, .durban and .joburg. For most companies the answer is simple: register the .co.za. The others are useful for specific audiences, brand protection or a local identity.
This guide explains what each extension is for, who runs them, and how to decide which ones to register.
Who runs South African domains?
Two organisations matter:
- ZADNA (the .za Domain Name Authority, zadna.org.za) is the statutory body that oversees the .za namespace under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
- ZACR (the ZA Central Registry, registry.net.za) operates the registries for .co.za and several other second-level domains, as well as .africa and the city top-level domains.
You do not deal with either directly. You register through an accredited registrar, which submits the registration to the registry on your behalf.
The extensions at a glance
| Extension | Intended for | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|
| .co.za | Commercial entities | You are a South African business of any size |
| .org.za | Non-profit organisations | You are an NPO, church, club or community group |
| .net.za | Network and internet-related organisations | You are an ISP or network services provider |
| .web.za | General web presence | Your preferred .co.za is taken and you want a .za name |
| .africa | Pan-African brands | You trade across the continent or want an African identity |
| .capetown | Cape Town businesses and people | Your customers are mostly in Cape Town |
| .durban | Durban businesses and people | Your customers are mostly in Durban |
| .joburg | Johannesburg businesses and people | Your customers are mostly in Johannesburg |
.co.za - the default for business
.co.za is by far the most recognised South African extension. Customers see it as local, which helps trust when you sell in rand, deliver locally or offer services in a specific area. It also signals to search engines that your site targets South Africa.
Registration is open: you do not need to be a registered company to hold one, although you should register it in the name of the business (or the owner) rather than a developer or agency. How to register a .co.za domain covers the details you need, and .co.za domain prices explained covers what you pay over time.
.org.za - for non-profits
.org.za is intended for non-profit organisations. It tells visitors straight away that you are not a commercial business, which suits NPOs, schools' fundraising bodies, sports clubs, churches and associations. If you are a business, stick with .co.za.
.net.za - for network providers
.net.za is meant for organisations that provide network or internet infrastructure, such as ISPs. It is not a general alternative for a business whose .co.za is taken; use .web.za or a different name instead.
.web.za - the lesser-known option
.web.za is an open .za extension. It is far less familiar to the public than .co.za, so most businesses use it as a fallback or as a defensive registration rather than as their main address. If you do use it, expect to spell it out for customers more often.
.africa - a continental identity
.africa is a top-level domain for the whole continent. It suits companies that operate in several African countries, pan-African initiatives, and brands that want an African rather than purely South African identity. It is also worth registering defensively if your brand is well known.
City domains - .capetown, .durban and .joburg
The three city top-level domains let you anchor your brand to a place: plumber.joburg or bakery.capetown tells people exactly where you operate. They are a good fit for restaurants, trades, tourism and local services. The trade-off is familiarity: some people will still type .co.za out of habit, so many businesses register both and redirect one to the other.
.co.za or .com?
South African businesses often weigh .co.za against .com. A .co.za is clearly local, is more likely to be available in your preferred spelling, and is widely trusted by South African customers. A .com suits companies selling internationally from day one. We compare the two in detail in .co.za vs .com.
How to choose which extensions to register
Use this quick decision path:
- Register the .co.za of your business name first. It is your main address for almost every local business.
- Register .com as well if you sell internationally or if the name is a key brand you must protect.
- Add a city domain or .africa if it matches your audience, either as your main address or as a redirect.
- Use .org.za instead of .co.za if you are a non-profit.
- Register common misspellings or variants only if people genuinely type them. Defensive registrations cost money every year, so be selective.
Whatever you choose, pick one primary domain for your website and email, and redirect the others to it with a permanent (301) redirect. Splitting your site across several extensions dilutes search rankings and confuses customers. For naming advice, read how to choose a domain name for a South African business.
Registering South African domains with NewHost
NewHost registers .co.za and many other extensions through our registrar partner. DNS is managed in the same dashboard as your hosting (NewHost DNS by default), and you can transfer domains in or out. Prices are in rand, excluding VAT, with VAT invoices for every payment. Check the current price of each extension on our domain search.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a South African company to register a .co.za domain?
No. .co.za registration is open, so you do not need to show a company registration number. Register it in the name of the business or its owner so the right person controls it.
Is .co.za better for SEO in South Africa?
A .co.za tells search engines your site targets South Africa, which can help for local searches. Content, speed and relevance still matter far more than the extension itself.
Can a business use a .org.za domain?
.org.za is intended for non-profit organisations. A commercial business should use .co.za so customers are not misled about what kind of organisation you are.
Should I register .joburg or .capetown instead of .co.za?
Only if a local identity is central to your brand. Most businesses keep .co.za as the main domain and use a city domain as a memorable redirect or marketing address.
Can I move a .za domain to another registrar later?
Yes. You can transfer .co.za and other domains between registrars. The process and timing are explained in our guide to transferring a .co.za domain.
Ready to claim your name? Search for your .co.za or city domain and register it in minutes, with DNS managed alongside your hosting.