Tackling DNS Abuse in Southern Africa: C3SA Launches New ICANN-Funded Project

C3SA is proud to announce the launch of a new project focused on Addressing DNS Abuse in Southern Africa,  funded by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

This project comes at a critical time, as Domain Name System (DNS) abuse continues to threaten the integrity and safety of the global internet ecosystem. DNS abuse includes a range of malicious activities such as phishing, malware distribution, botnets, and spam—all of which pose serious risks to users, businesses, and national cybersecurity.

Our aim is to build awareness, gather empirical data, and co-develop strategies that can help strengthen responses to DNS abuse within Southern African countries. This is not just about technical solutions—it’s about empowering people, policies, and institutions to tackle the threats inherent in DNS.

The project will involve:

🔹 Research and situational analysis of DNS abuse trends and responses in Southern Africa
🔹 Stakeholder consultations with government, academia, internet service providers, and civil society
🔹 Capacity-building workshops aimed at enhancing national and regional response mechanisms
🔹 A public report offering actionable recommendations for DNS abuse mitigation in the region

ICANN's support for this initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to internet security and stability, and to strengthening global efforts to address DNS-related threats in underserved regions.

This collaboration with ICANN enables us to place Southern Africa on the map in global cybersecurity dialogues and to influence policy grounded in regional realities. C3SA invites all stakeholders across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to participate in this important initiative and help shape a safer, more resilient internet for all.

For more information, contact Professor Wallace Chigona c3sa@uct.ac.za