Click here to learn more about ZACR.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nEstablished in 1988 as UniForum SA, the organization began managing South Africa\u2019s .co.za domain namespace in 1995, with a modest 321 domain names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat we were given then thanks to the foresight and pioneering spirit of individuals like Mike Lawrie, was more than just a domain name,\u201d said Lucky Masilela, CEO of ZA Central Registry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a national digital asset, a gift we\u2019ve proudly nurtured, protected, and grown into the trusted cornerstone of South Africa\u2019s online presence today.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the decades, ZACR has grown into Africa\u2019s largest domain name registry operator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2012, the organization expanded its portfolio by launching second-level domains including .net.za, .web.za, and .org.za. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two years later, ZACR introduced geographic top-level domains -.joburg, .capetown, and .durban – further entrenching its commitment to the digital development of South Africa’s major cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recognizing the need for a refreshed vision, the organization rebranded as ZA Central Registry (ZACR) under the leadership of CEO Lucky Masilela, positioning itself to better serve a growing digital community and to promote a more inclusive .ZA namespace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Launch of the ZARC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In 2022, ZACR ushered in another evolution by handing over the administration of all .ZA second-level domains to the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC) – a consolidated joint venture between ZACR and Domain Name Services (DNS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This strategic move aims to unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and streamlined operations within South Africa\u2019s digital ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInnovation and resilience have always been at the heart of ZACR,\u201d said Masilela. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis milestone reflects not just the organization’s longevity, but its ability to adapt and lead through continuous change.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the Registry Operator and custodians of the .africa and the ZA Cities – .joburg, .durban and .capetown – geoTLDs we carry the responsibility of shaping Africa\u2019s digital identity,\u201d said Masilela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe future looks very bright, rooted in innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to ensuring Africa\u2019s domain space continues to thrive and reflect the vibrancy of our continent.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The future is bright<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Looking ahead, ZACR will continue to focus its efforts on the growth and administration of South Africa\u2019s city-based domains: .joburg, .capetown, and .durban – cementing its role in building the country\u2019s online identity at both a local and global level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As ZACR celebrates 37 years of service, it invites stakeholders, partners, and the broader internet community to reflect on its legacy and embrace the next chapter of digital innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As ZACR celebrates 37 years of service, it invites stakeholders, partners, and the broader internet community to reflect on its legacy and embrace the next chapter of digital innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":833044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[5321,3942],"class_list":["post-833043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-domain-names","tag-za-central-registry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=833043"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":833129,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833043\/revisions\/833129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/833044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=833043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=833043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=833043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}