ZA Central Registry NPC (ZACR) is set to delete some 12 613 org.za domain names on 01 September 2017 and make them available for re-registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

The move by the country’s .ZA domain name administrator follows an extensive two-year public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging org.za domain name owners to transfer their domains from ZACR’s Legacy platform to the EPP platform via the use of Accredited Registrars. It comes after 15 420 org.za domain names were already suspended on 01 September 2016.

“The unfortunate spectre of thousands of domain name deletions is looming over the local domain name industry and it’s entirely avoidable. We urge those org.za domain name owners who have not yet heeded our many requests to migrate to ZACR-Accredited Registrars to do so without delay,” said Lucky Masilela, ZACR CEO.

The ZACR is tasked with administering second-level domains within the greater .ZA namespace and this includes org.za. The intent to suspend non-compliant org.za domains from 1 September 2016 and to finally delete them on 1 September 2017 has been communicated by ZACR over a period of time.

The ZACR is responsible for the technical and administrative wellbeing of the entire South African presence on the worldwide web. It takes this responsibility very seriously, particularly in communicating and providing as much information and support to its clients.

More information about the suspension of the org.za domains can be accessed at org.za suspension information while a complete list of domain names that remain on the org.za default registrar is available at org.za default registrar.

ENDS

ORG.ZA DELETIONS SCHEDULED FOR 1 SEPTEMBER 2017

Should you still have clients whose org.za domain names have not yet been transferred to the EPP platform, we urge you initiate the transfer of those domain names before 1 September 2017.

For more information on the Org.Za Default Registrar Migration, please see our webpage (https://registry.net.za/content.php?gen=1&contentid=199&title=Org.ZA+Default+Registrar+Migrations)

For any questions please contact support@registry.net, the ZACR’s Support Department.
For media queries, interview requests and access to high resolution publicity photos contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or call 011 788 7632

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of ZA Central Registry

ZA Central Registry NPC

The ZA Central Registry (ZACR) is a non-profit organisation (NPO) currently managing various .ZA second level domains, such as co.za, net.za, org.za and web.za. With over 1.1 million domain name registrations, the majority of these domain names are under co.za. co.za domain names represent 95% of the total number of registrations in .ZA, and a large percentage of ccTLD registrations for the entire African Continent.

In 2014 ZA Central Registry added 3 new gTLDs to its administration, namely: .dotJoburg, .dotCapeTown and .dotDurban.