What is .capetown?
.capetown entered the DNS root zone on June 19, 2014, 12 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry also runs 2 other TLDs, including .durban and .joburg.
On the technical side, .capetown is served by 3 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .capetown, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.capetown).
Same registry, other endings
2 other TLDs share this operator.
.capetown FAQ
What does .capetown mean?
.capetown is a generic top-level domain named for the word "capetown", and it's aimed at cities & regions. It doesn't belong to any country.
What is .capetown used for?
.capetown is mostly used for cities & regions. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .capetown?
None. .capetown is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .capetown domain extension?
ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry operates .capetown as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .capetown created?
.capetown was delegated to the DNS root zone on June 19, 2014.
Is .capetown a valid domain?
Yes. .capetown is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2014, so .capetown addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .capetown domain?
.capetown names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read ZA Central Registry NPC trading as ZA Central Registry's policy if you're unsure.
Is .capetown DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .capetown.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed August 5, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
