Why South Africans Automatically Assume .CO.ZA Domains
In South Africa, there is a strong assumption that a company’s website will use a .co.za domain. If someone hears about your business and wants to find you online, they are likely to search for “yourcompany.co.za” first before trying any other domain extensions.
Why This Happens
✅ .CO.ZA is the most recognized and trusted domain for businesses in South Africa.
✅ People assume local companies will have a local domain.
✅ Many businesses use “yourcompany.co.za” as their email address, reinforcing the assumption.
What This Means for You
💡 If you register a non-.co.za domain (e.g., .com, .net, .africa), but leave the .co.za version available, someone else might buy it and confuse your customers.
Best Practice: Secure Both Domains
🔹 If your primary website uses a different domain (e.g., yourcompany.com), also register yourcompany.co.za and redirect it to your main site.
🔹 This ensures that anyone assuming your site is on .co.za will still reach you.
🔹 It prevents competitors or scammers from misusing your brand name on .co.za.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a South African business, it’s highly recommended to own the .co.za domain, even if you don’t use it as your main website. This protects your brand and ensures customers can always find you easily.