The old server is still up, but it only returns DNS information, while the new one returns everything.
The old server also seems to give incorrect results, perhaps it queries an outdated database, the example below gives the google.africa domain as premium and free, while it appears to be registered.
See examples:
africa-whois.registry.net.za
<pre>
Available
Domain: google.africa
Premium domain name
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2021-12-24T08:21:37Z <<<
# --
# For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
#
# The use of this Whois facility is subject to the following terms and
# conditions. http://www.dns.net.za/whois/
# Copyright (c) DNS Africa Ltd 2021
</pre>
whois.nic.africa
Domain Name: google.africa
Registry Domain ID: DOM_BC-AFRICA
Registrar WHOIS Server: Whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar URL: https://www.markmonitor.com/
Updated Date: 2021-05-01T09:30:28Z
Creation Date: 2017-06-02T20:00:29Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2022-06-02T20:00:29Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2022-06-02T20:00:29Z
Registrar: MarkMonitor
Registrar IANA ID: 292
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: registry.billing@markmonitor.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.2083895740
Reseller:
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited
Registry Registrant ID: REDACTED
Registrant Name: REDACTED
Registrant Organization:
Registrant Street: REDACTED
Registrant City: REDACTED
Registrant State/Province: CA
Registrant Postal Code: REDACTED
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: REDACTED
Registrant Phone Ext: REDACTED
Registrant Fax: REDACTED
Registrant Fax Ext: REDACTED
Registrant Email: Please query the RDDS service of the Registrar of Record identified in this output for information on how to contact the Registrant, Admin or Tech contacts of the domain name.
Registry Admin ID: REDACTED
Admin Name: REDACTED
Admin Organization: REDACTED
Admin Street: REDACTED
Admin City: REDACTED
Admin State/Province: REDACTED
Admin Postal Code: REDACTED
Admin Country: REDACTED
Admin Phone: REDACTED
Admin Phone Ext: REDACTED
Admin Fax: REDACTED
Admin Fax Ext: REDACTED
Admin Email: Please query the RDDS service of the Registrar of Record identified in this output for information on how to contact the Registrant, Admin or Tech contacts of the domain name.
Registry Tech ID: REDACTED
Tech Name: REDACTED
Tech Organization: REDACTED
Tech Street: REDACTED
Tech City: REDACTED
Tech State/Province: REDACTED
Tech Postal Code: REDACTED
Tech Country: REDACTED
Tech Phone: REDACTED
Tech Phone Ext: REDACTED
Tech Fax: REDACTED
Tech Fax Ext: REDACTED
Tech Email: Please query the RDDS service of the Registrar of Record identified in this output for information on how to contact the Registrant, Admin or Tech contacts of the domain name.
Registry Billing ID: REDACTED
Billing Name: REDACTED
Billing Organization: REDACTED
Billing Street: REDACTED
Billing City: REDACTED
Billing State/Province: REDACTED
Billing Postal Code: REDACTED
Billing Country: REDACTED
Billing Phone: REDACTED
Billing Phone Ext: REDACTED
Billing Fax: REDACTED
Billing Fax Ext: REDACTED
Billing Email: Please query the RDDS service of the Registrar of Record identified in this output for information on how to contact the Registrant, Admin or Tech contacts of the domain name.
Name Server: ns2.googledomains.com
Name Server: ns4.googledomains.com
Name Server: ns1.googledomains.com
Name Server: ns3.googledomains.com
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2021-12-24T08:19:08Z <<<
For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
#
# The use of this Whois facility is subject to the following terms and
# conditions. https://registry.net.za/whois_terms
# Copyright (c) ZACR 1995-2021
The old whois server is africa-whois.registry.net.za while the new one is whois.nic.africa (also present on the IANA website https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/africa.html).
The old server is still up, but it only returns DNS information, while the new one returns everything. The old server also seems to give incorrect results, perhaps it queries an outdated database, the example below gives the google.africa domain as premium and free, while it appears to be registered.
See examples:
africa-whois.registry.net.za
whois.nic.africa