Domains.co.za is the first South Africa registrar to implement Domain Transfer Lock for all .za domains, with effect from 1st April 2025. The range of .za TLD domains includes .co.za, .org.za, .web.za, and .net.za.
Transfers for .co.za domains have originally differed from traditional protocols. That said, an update was announced on 31st March 2025 by ZARC, the .za registry, which now allows all .za domains to be transfer-locked, similarly to the international domains transfer locking for e.g. .com and .net.
NOTE: Additionally, .co.za domains can now be registered or renewed for up to 5 years.
With the .co.za lock now being supported, Domains.co.za will lock all domains with the *.za suffix (except for those currently in transfer status). Following this, all new Domain Registrations and Domain Transfers will be Domain Locked automatically.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a Domain Transfer Lock?
A domain transfer lock is a security measure designed to prevent the unauthorised transfer of a domain name from one registrar to another. Its main function is to protect against domain hijacking, where hackers attempt to steal or make changes to domain names. It adds a layer of security, ensuring that only authorised individuals can initiate a legitimate domain transfer.
How it works:
When a domain is locked, the registrar automatically prevents transfer requests. To transfer the domain, the owner must first unlock it directly through their service provider’s control panel.
Note: The domain transfer lock or unlock feature is already supported in the Domains.co.za Client Portal, so customers who want to unlock or lock their domain manually can do so.
How To Add Domain Transfer Lock
With this update, the process for domain transfers in .co.za will be different. You must first unlock your .co.za domain before you can transfer it to or from us.
Note: There is no authorisation code for .co.za domains; only the lock and unlock options are available.
1: Access your Domains.co.za account via the Login web page.
2: Enter your username and password and click “Sign In”.
3: You will be taken to the Manage Account dashboard.
4: Click on “Manage Services” to view the dropdown menu and select Domains. You will see a list of your available domain names.
5; Click the “Manage” button to the right of the one you want to access.
6: On the next page, scroll down to the Domain Information section.
7: Click the “Lock/Unlock Domain” button to change the Lock Status
Additional Information
EPP Status Codes
The clientTransferProhibited EPP Status Code will be displayed in the WHOIS database for a domain name with a lock enabled.
