A Domain is a NAME
Only a Name. Like Peter.
There is a computer called ZA
There is another computer called CO
When ZA allows CO to be a part of it's network Voila CO is no known as CO@ZA or CO.ZA
The TLD or Top Level Domains are allocated by a central agency (ICANN).
They decide what TLD's will be and Which not. eg. .COM .BIZ .ORG .ZA .RU etc. etc.
The "caretakers" of these Domains decide the rules etc. for other Computers connecting
or resolving to it. So When You register a domain as TAX at the CO.ZA Computer
you are now known as TAX.CO.ZA - easy as pie.
eg. At .CO.ZA you can register ANY Name that hasn't been registred.


EXCEPT : Cybersquatters.

CyberSquatting is ONLY when :
You Register a well known registred TRADEMARK eg. COCA-COLA.co.za
or MICROSOFT.co.za and not when someone registers samstakeaways.co.za
and your business is also called samstakeaways.
CyberSquatters also then hold the domain ransom so that the registred owner of
the trademark has to pay for the .co.za name

When Someone doesn't pay the yearly renewal fee and a domain is deleted
from eg. the co.za computer ANYONE can register that name, as it is again
available. (So pay your yearly fee's or your registration fee's)
That domain now belongs to the new registrant. (You can off course try to buy
it from the new owner.)
In general a domain in the CO.ZA namespace becomes unusable for at least
TWO months. (no e-mail and WWW) so If you have lost a domain like this you
weren't using it in the first place...( CO.ZA sends out 4 reminders before even suspending
a domain - WOW what service, in other parts of the world the domain is just deleted.
You're doing an excellent Job Uniforum !!! (I am in NO way involved with Uniforum)
More aboat CO.ZA at http://co.za