The original print publication provided lists of names and some biographical details of notable individuals in Southern Africa.
This listing includes noteworthy professionals, popular sports men and women, entertainers and politicians.
For the purposes of the website the definition of the Southern African region was extended to include profiles of people from Angola, Zambia, Madagascar and Malawi.
The online resource was opened to the public in January 2010 to allow anyone 18 years or older living or born in the region to register on the site and create a profile of themselves.
Inclusion in both the print publication and online version is free and relegated by merit, distinguishing Who's Who of Southern Africa from the Who's Who scams with which the Who's Who titles are sometimes marred.