The ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) welcomes the success of .joburg (dotJoburg) in the initial evaluation stage of ICANN’s new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) project.

The .joburg application was submitted by the ZA Central Registry (ZACR) alongside the dotAfrica (.africa) dotCapeTown (.capetown) and dotDurban (.durban) applications.

The initial evaluation success of the .joburg application follows that of .durban which passed the same evaluation phase three weeks ago.

ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers) is currently processing around 1 300 new gTLD applications. The applications are considered in the order determined by the prioritisation draw held in Los Angeles on 17 December 2012. The .durban application drew position 303, and passed its initial evaluation in May 2013. Joburg drew 566 and has now just been evaluated. Cape Town with position 761 has a little more time to wait.

“Joburg is a city with its own unique atmosphere and is undoubtedly Africa’s leading business and financial centre,” says Vika Mpisane, General Manager of ZADNA.

“It’s fitting that it should have its own domain name that companies and organisations can use to convey a distinct association with the city. Once the Cape Town initial evaluation is completed, we will be on our way to giving our three major cities a sound platform on which to market themselves on the Internet,” he concludes.