What is the difference between where a domain is registered (Registrar) and Nameservers (DNS)?

The Domain Registrar is the company where the domain name was purchased and where annual renewal billing is managed. Nameservers (DNS) control where your website traffic and @yourcompany emails are routed. For example, a domain can be registered at a South African registrar while using Cloudflare nameservers (like aiden.ns.cloudflare.com) for high-speed edge hosting and security.

Why is the domain owner's name and email hidden in a WHOIS search?

Under South Africa's POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) and international GDPR regulations, domain registries like ZARC and ICANN redact personal registrant, admin, and billing emails from public WHOIS queries to prevent spam and identity theft. To reach the domain holder, you must contact the listed Registrar's RDDS or abuse contact email.

What does 'clientTransferProhibited' mean in a WHOIS record?

clientTransferProhibited is a standard security lock applied by registrars to protect a domain against unauthorized transfers. It does not mean the domain cannot be transferred—the domain owner simply needs to unlock the domain in their current registrar portal or approve the transfer confirmation email when moving to a new provider like CodeWays.

How do I transfer my existing .co.za domain to CodeWays?

Click 'Transfer Domain to CodeWays' directly from your WHOIS results or visit codeways.co/sites. For .co.za domains, ZARC sends an automated transfer approval ticket to the domain's registrant email. Once approved, the transfer completes with zero website or email downtime.

What happens when a .co.za domain expires?

When a .co.za domain passes its Registry Expiry Date without renewal, it enters a suspension/hold period where the website and emails stop resolving, followed by a pending deletion phase (typically 20 to 30 days depending on registry policy) before being released back to the public for anyone to register.

How much does it cost to register a new .co.za domain at CodeWays?

At CodeWays, you can register a standalone .co.za domain name for R120/year (including free Cloudflare Edge DNS and SSL), or get your .co.za domain included free inside our R250/month Complete Website, Domain & Business Email package.

Does CodeWays offer a WHOIS JSON & Markdown API for developers and AI agents?

Yes. Developers and AI agents can query GET https://codeways.co/api/whois?domain=example.co.za for structured JSON data (registrar, dates, nameservers, MX records, and raw WHOIS), or GET https://codeways.co/whois?domain=example.co.za&format=markdown for clean LLM-ready Markdown.

ZARC (.co.za) & Global ICANN Registry Intelligence

Instant Domain WHOIS Lookup

Q: How do I find out where a .co.za domain is registered?

Enter the .co.za domain into the CodeWays WHOIS Lookup tool above. The 'Registered At (Domain Registrar)' spotlight card immediately highlights the accredited ZARC registrar managing the domain (such as Domains.co.za, eStart, xneelo, Afrihost, or 1-GRID), along with the registrar's website URL, support email, and contact number.

Search any .co.za, .com, .co, or global domain name. Instantly see where it is registered, when it expires, where its DNS & email are hosted, and the official registry record.

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Registrar vs. DNS vs. Website Hosting Explained

When checking a domain's WHOIS record, business owners often see two different companies listed—one under Registrar and another under Name Servers. Here is what each controls:

1. Domain Registrar

Where the Domain Is Registered

The accredited company (e.g. CodeWays / Domains.co.za, eStart, xneelo, Afrihost, Cloudflare) that manages your annual domain registration billing, ownership record, and transfer locks with ZARC or ICANN.

2. Nameservers (DNS)

Where Traffic Is Routed

Your Name Servers (such as *.ns.cloudflare.com) act as the internet's phonebook, directing visitors to your website server (A Record) and directing emails to your inbox provider (MX Record).

3. Web & Email Hosting

Where Your Site & Inbox Live

You can keep your domain registered at one company while hosting your website on Cloudflare's Global Edge and running your email on Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or a CodeWays Business Inbox.

WHOIS Domain Status Codes Explained (ZARC & ICANN EPP)

Quick reference guide translating technical registry EPP status codes into plain English.

WHOIS Status Code	Plain-English Meaning	What You Need to Know
clientTransferProhibited	Transfer Lock Active	Protects the domain against unauthorized transfers. Normal for active domains; unlock at your current registrar before transferring.
ok / active	Active & Resolving	The domain is active in the registry with no pending operations or transfer locks.
clientHold / serverHold	Suspended (DNS Paused)	The domain is temporarily removed from DNS resolution—most commonly due to an overdue renewal invoice or pending verification.
pendingTransfer	Transfer in Progress	A transfer request has been initiated to a new registrar and is awaiting registrant confirmation or registry completion.
redemptionPeriod	Expired Grace Period	The domain has expired and is scheduled for deletion, but the original owner can still restore it through the current registrar.
pendingDelete	Scheduled for Release	The domain is being purged by the registry and will soon become available for new public registration.

South African (.za) & Global Registry Reference

Authoritative registries queried in real time by the CodeWays WHOIS engine.

Extension (TLD)	Registry Operator	Authoritative WHOIS Server	Primary Use Case
.co.za	ZARC (ZA Registry Consortium)	whois.registry.net.za	South African commercial businesses & brands ( over 1.3M registered)
.org.za	ZARC (ZA Registry Consortium)	org-whois.registry.net.za	South African NPOs, NGOs, charities & associations
.net.za / .web.za	ZARC (ZA Registry Consortium)	net-whois / web-whois.registry.net.za	Network providers, ISPs, and web applications in South Africa
.joburg / .capetown / .durban	ZARC DotCities	*-whois.registry.net.za	Local city-specific South African enterprises & tourism
.com / .net	Verisign, Inc.	whois.verisign-grs.com	Global commercial & international technology businesses
.co / .io / .ai	CentralNic / ICB / NIC.AI	whois.registry.co / whois.nic.io	Modern software agencies, AI startups & SaaS platforms

Frequently Asked Questions About WHOIS & Domains

Direct answers on checking domain registrars, POPIA privacy protection, and transferring domains in South Africa.

How do I find out where a .co.za domain is registered?

Enter the domain into the search bar at the top of this page. Our Registered At (Domain Registrar) spotlight card pulls the live ZARC registry record and highlights the exact registrar company, their website URL, and their support contact details.

Why does WHOIS say "Please contact the RDDS service of the listed Registrar"?

To comply with South Africa's POPIA and international GDPR privacy laws, ZARC and ICANN mask personal registrant names, phone numbers, and email addresses from public scraping. The listed Registrar remains publicly visible so you always know which company manages the domain.

Why is the Registrar different from the Nameservers (e.g. Cloudflare)?

Your Registrar is where the domain is billed and renewed. Your Nameservers (such as aiden.ns.cloudflare.com) determine which DNS network routes your website and email traffic. Our tool shows both side-by-side so you never confuse them.

How do I transfer my .co.za domain to CodeWays?

Search your domain above and click Transfer Domain to CodeWays, or visit codeways.co/sites. We handle the ZARC transfer ticket and configure your Cloudflare DNS and SSL with zero website or email downtime.

What does "clientTransferProhibited" mean?

It means your current registrar has enabled a standard security transfer lock so nobody can hijack your domain. When you are ready to transfer, simply unlock the domain in your registrar control panel or request an EPP/transfer release from their support team.

Can developers and AI agents query this WHOIS tool via API?

Yes. Request GET /api/whois?domain=example.co.za for structured JSON, or GET /whois?domain=example.co.za&format=markdown for LLM-ready Markdown.

Need a New Domain, AI-Structured Website, or Business Email?

Register your .co.za domain for R120/year, or get your domain, a custom website styled around your logo, and @yourcompany.co.za email for R250/pm.

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