SA domain name issue up for comment

September 2005

The .za Domain Name Authority (.zaDNA) today launched a public consultative process around the South African country code top level domain name (.za).

Making the announcement at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, .zaDNA chairman Dr Hasmukh Gajjar said the process, which falls under the auspices of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, is ready for public engagement.

This is the first step in the process to finalise the za model, as .zaDNA seeks to implement an optimal structure for the za domain name space, taking into account the specific needs of the country.

Gajjar said the authority would also embark on an educational drive to close a “knowledge gap” that exists not only in regard to access to technology, but also in respect of knowledge about technology.

“The challenge is to close this gap, as we would like to have meaningful discussions with our stakeholders,” Gajjar said.