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    • .joburg

    Generic top-level domainsDNSSEC

    Overview

    .joburg is a delegated geographic top-level domain (GeoTLD) created to represent the city of Johannesburg. It is managed by UniForum SA, also known as the ZA Central Registry (ZACR), and was introduced through ICANN's new gTLD program to provide a dedicated online identity for the city.

    History

    • Operated by UniForum SA / ZA Central Registry (ZACR), the organization that also manages the .za ccTLD second-level domains.
    • The application for .joburg was submitted as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program.
    • .joburg was delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 17 June 2014.
    • ZADNA (the ZA Domain Name Authority) and South Africa's Department of Communications supported UniForum SA's application and appointment to administer the string.
    • UniForum SA has also been involved in applications or activity around other regional and pan-African strings such as .africa, .durban, and .capetown.

    Usage and Audience

    • Intended audience includes individuals, businesses, organizations, and entities with a connection to Johannesburg.
    • Aims to serve as a city-branded online identifier that reflects Johannesburg's cultural, social and economic diversity.
    • Positioned to support tourism promotion, talent development, and new revenue streams tied to Johannesburg's digital identity.
    • Backed by local stakeholders (ZACR, ZADNA and the Department of Communications) to promote adoption within the city and region.

    Registration Rules

    • The applicant described .joburg as an unrestricted gTLD to be operated under the ICANN framework.
    • ZACR is responsible for establishing and maintaining the registration policy, including technical and administrative procedures for registrations, cancellations, transfers, suspensions and revocations.
    • No specific eligibility restrictions, minimum/maximum registration periods, or allowed-character rules are detailed in the provided material.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • .joburg is presented as a city-specific brand namespace intended to act as a proud online identifier for Johannesburg.
    • The registry's stated goals include positioning .joburg as a preferred option for entities identifying with the city and using the TLD to boost tourism and local digital presence.

    Notable Cases or Examples

    • Delegation to the Root Zone on 17 June 2014 marks the primary milestone for .joburg.
    • UniForum SA's dual role as .za registry operator and .joburg registry operator is a notable aspect of governance and local oversight.

    Operator

    ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry

    Whois

    % IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       JOBURG

organisation: ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry
address:      COZA House
address:      Gazelle Close
address:      Corporate Park South
address:      Midrand
address:      Midrand 1685
address:      South Africa

contact:      administrative
name:         Neil Duncan Dundas
organisation: ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry
address:      PO Box 4620
address:      Halfway House 1685
address:      South Africa
phone:        +27113140077
fax-no:       +27113140088
e-mail:       icann@registry.net.za

contact:      technical
name:         Busdev Manager
organisation: Domain Name Services (Pty) Ltd
address:      PO Box 4620
address:      Halfway House 1685
address:      South Africa
phone:        +27115682800
e-mail:       theo@dnservices.co.za

nserver:      COZA1.DNSNODE.NET 194.146.106.74 2001:67c:1010:18:0:0:0:53
nserver:      NS2.DNS.NET.ZA 196.29.59.175 2001:43f8:790:5901:0:0:c41d:3baf
nserver:      NS4.DNS.NET.ZA 2a01:3f0:0:314:0:0:0:53 77.72.229.251
ds-rdata:     2855 8 2 d027f109b59baeb30bc000dc1f2d34b57d9ba404923f899bb07e4badd0dc2136

whois:        whois.nic.joburg

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: http://www.registry.net.za

created:      2014-06-05
changed:      2025-08-05
source:       IANA

    Registrars