All sorted, if anyone has a similar issue the old co.za site is accessible at: https://coza.net.za/
You can pay for your domain there and then initiate a transfer from your registrar of choice.
My email stopped working on one of my domains and i went to check if the domain was paid up and it seems things have changed for co.za admin.
If I put my domain in the whois it is paid up but there is no registrar listed.
I have gone through the new site but its not clear what should be done...