.co.zaOpen
Unrestricted South African namespace for general commercial and organisational use by South African and non-South African registrants.Check current pricing first yearRenews at Check current pricing/yrRegister .co.za.co.za and every South Africa domain, in one search
Register South Africa's national domains with pricing confirmed at checkout, alongside .com and .africa, billed in ZAR and paid with PayFast or a card. Every price shows its renewal rate.
Type a name, or a full domain like yourbrand.co.za. Availability is confirmed live at checkout.
~$ check yourbrand --za
# one name, priced in ZAR
yourbrand.co.zaavailableCheck current pricing
yourbrand.web.zaavailablecheck live
yourbrand.africaavailablecheck live
# example only; checkout confirms live status
Pay with: PayFast Ozow SnapScan Instant EFT Visa Mastercard Bank Transfer
The full .za namespace
South Africa uses second-level namespaces under .za rather than general direct .za registrations. Some namespaces are unrestricted while others are moderated for specific communities.
.org.zaEligibility rules
Namespace intended for organisations and non-commercial use, including NGOs, charities, associations and civil-society bodies.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .org.za.net.zaEligibility rules
Namespace intended for network interfaces, internet infrastructure and equipment supporting the South African Internet.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .net.za.web.zaOpen
Unrestricted namespace intended for general web use by South African and non-South African registrants.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .web.za.ac.zaEligibility rules
Moderated namespace for South African higher-education institutions, learned societies and associated research or support institutions.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .ac.za.edu.zaEligibility rules
Reserved namespace for accredited and registered South African Further Education and Training colleges.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .edu.za.gov.zaRestricted
Moderated namespace intended for South African government entities.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .gov.za.law.zaEligibility rules
Moderated namespace for eligible attorneys and advocates admitted and enrolled in South Africa.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .law.za.mil.zaRestricted
Closed moderated namespace for the South African Department of Defence and affiliated organisations.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .mil.za.nom.zaEligibility rules
Moderated personal-name namespace for individuals and personal names without commercial value.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .nom.za.school.zaEligibility rules
Moderated namespace for recognised schools domiciled in South Africa.Check live first yearRenews at Check live/yrRegister .school.zaWe register .za names through Route Africa’s registry partners, with billing in rand. Eligibility is summarised from ZADNA and the .za zone operators policy; the registry has the final word.
Global extensions, billed in ZAR
Pair your local name with a global one if you sell across borders.
Included with every domain
No add-on fees for the basics you need to run a website and email.
Free DNS management
Add A, CNAME, MX and TXT records from your client area, including records for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
Nameserver control
Use Route Africa hosting or point the domain to any provider you like.
Transfer lock and auth codes
Lock the domain against unauthorised transfers and request its EPP code when you need to move it.
DNSSEC where supported
Sign the zone on extensions whose registry supports DNSSEC.
Privacy where permitted
Hide personal contact details from public lookups where registry policy allows it.
Renewal reminders
We email you ahead of expiry, so a lapsed card or changed number doesn't cost you the name.
From search to live domain in three steps
Open zones activate soon after payment. Zones with eligibility rules wait for the registry to accept your documents.
Search and pick
Check your name across .za and global extensions, and add the ones you want to the cart.
Add hosting or email if you need it
Our web hosting plans from CloudNest up include a free domain.
Pay in ZAR and manage
Pay with PayFast, card or bank transfer, then manage DNS and renewals in one client area.
Already own a domain elsewhere?
Move it to Route Africa and keep every domain, renewal and DNS record in one place, billed in ZAR. Your website and email keep running during the move.
Why register with Route Africa in South Africa?
International registrars rarely carry .za names or take ZAR. We do both, in one account.
| Feature | Route Africa | Typical international registrar |
|---|---|---|
| .za namespace | Full namespace, with eligibility guidance | Often unavailable |
| Billing in ZAR | Yes | USD or EUR |
| Pay with PayFast | Yes | Rarely |
| Renewal price shown beside first-year price | On every listing | Often in the small print |
| Other African namespaces in the same account | Eight countries | Few or none |
| Support in African business hours | Team in Dodoma, Tanzania | Varies |
Selling across Africa?
Register your name in the other seven markets from the same account, each priced in its own currency.
Tanzania.co.tzCheck current pricing /yrTZS billingKenya.co.keCheck current pricing /yrKES billingNigeria.com.ngCheck current pricing /yrNGN billingSouth Africa.co.zaCheck current pricing /yrYou are hereRwanda.co.rwCheck current pricing /yrRWF billingGhana.com.ghCheck current pricing /yrGHS billingUganda.co.ugCheck current pricing /yrUGX billingMalawi.com.mwCheck current pricing /yrMWK billing
Domain registration in South Africa: questions
Which South Africa domain should I choose?
Most businesses register .co.za. Organisations, schools and government bodies have their own zones, shown on this page with their eligibility rules. Add .com or .africa if you sell beyond South Africa.
Why do you show the renewal price?
Some extensions are cheap for the first year and cost more afterwards. Showing both lets you compare the real cost of keeping a name.
Can I pay in ZAR with mobile money?
Yes. This page bills in ZAR, and checkout accepts PayFast, Ozow, SnapScan, Instant EFT, as well as cards and bank transfer.
What do restricted zones need?
Zones marked Eligibility rules or Restricted ask for proof, such as a company certificate, NGO registration or an institution's letter. We confirm the documents for your zone before you pay.
Can I use the domain with another host?
Yes. You control the nameservers and DNS records, so you can point the domain anywhere.
What if I forget to renew?
We email reminders before expiry. After that, ZADNA and the .za zone operators rules decide the grace and recovery period, so renew early if the name matters.