In 2005, the very first Good News Centre was built in the quiet rural village of Candu in the Eastern Cape. Sponsored by Auto Page, this small centre marked the beginning of COPTrust’s vision to bring hope, care, and opportunity into communities.
Life in Candu is simple, but the needs are real. From the start, the centre has run a crèche, feeding programmes, and provide access to clean water for the community through large JoJo tanks pumped from the local dam.
As our oldest centre, Candu GNC continues to be a beacon of care and stability. Though managed from afar, COPTrust makes quarterly visits to provide support, encouragement, and general maintenance – ensuring the centre remains a lifeline to this rural community.
The Clermont Good News Centre began when a local community member opened her home for COPTrust to run projects. As these grew, the need for a larger space became clear. COPTrust secured land, and with the sponsorship of WCF, the centre was built in 2015 with the help of an American volunteer and local community members.
From its opening, Clermont GNC has been a vibrant hub for young people. It is especially known for its focus on youth and young adults, creating opportunities to learn, grow, and belong. Here, many discover their talents through music – learning an instrument or singing in the COPT choir – while others develop teamwork and discipline through the COPTrust Soccer Academy, now a well-known programme, which traces its roots back to this centre.Today, Clermont GNC continues to inspire hope, nurture talent, and shape future leaders. It is a place where young people not only find their voice, but also the confidence to dream and the strength to build a brighter tomorrow.
Since opening in 2006, the Lamontville Good News Centre has been a place of learning, care, and connection in the heart of the township. Built on land allocated to COPTrust by the municipality and sponsored by Altech Auto Page, it quickly became a beacon of hope in the community.
We began with a small crèche, which soon earned the reputation of being “the crèche of choice” for local families. With the dedication of staff, volunteers, and supporters, the centre has steadily grown into a vibrant hub serving people of all ages.
From nurturing the youngest learners to hosting literacy classes and skills development programmes, Lamontville GNC continues to be a safe and welcoming space where lives are uplifted and changed every day.
The Marrianhill Good News Centre began when community members connected to COPT started small projects from their own home. The activities grew so quickly that the house could no longer hold them. Recognising the need and encouraged by the success of the Lamontville Good News Centre, Auto Page once again partnered with us to sponsor a new centre.
In 2008, Marrianhill GNC opened its doors with a traditional Zulu celebration – the slaying of the fatted cow and community agreements made over a jug of Zulu beer. The centre was first home to our third crèche. While COPTrust no longer manages a crèche here, the premises are used by another local crèche, continuing to serve young children in the area.
Today, Marrianhill has become best known for its strong support of the elderly. Weekly gatherings, activities, and practical assistance provide not only care but also dignity and companionship for older community members. It has grown into a trusted space where generations meet, share, and uplift one another.
The Aphiwe Good News Centre in Tembisa was the first to open its doors in 2010, with the support of Altech Autopage. In its early years, it began as a Bible Education Centre and also served as a training space for community members who wanted to open their own Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. Those already running preschools could attend to receive guidance and ensure their centres remained compliant. Many who participated in this programme went on to open their own centres or strengthen the work they were already doing, bringing lasting change to their communities.
Over time, Aphiwe has grown into a gathering place for children, youth, and families to learn, grow, and share in God’s word. Today, although it no longer offers ECD training, the centre continues to be a welcoming and encouraging space. Feeding programmes, youth initiatives, and other community projects keep the centre active every week, offering support and hope to those who need it most.
Soweto is one of the most famous and historically significant townships in South Africa, located in Gauteng province, near Johannesburg. Because of its rich history and vibrant community, we knew it was a place where a COPT Good News Centre (GNC) could make a real difference. The Soweto GNC opened in 2016 as a Bible Education Centre at a local train station, offering Bible studies, children’s sessions, and outreach to surrounding communities. Despite challenges such as vandalism and infrastructure loss, to have a centre in Soweto continued. After years of searching for a permanent home, the centre reopened in 2023 in Protea South in a building purchased using COPT-donated funds, marking a new season of growth and hope.
Today, the centre is full of life. Bible study groups, homework support, sewing and baking projects, aerobics, and computer training bring people of all ages together. It has become a safe and welcoming space where young people can grow, friendships are formed, and community members find encouragement, practical support, and hope.
The Yeoville Good News Centre began in 2018 in a small office, offering Bible courses to people eager to learn and grow in their faith. From these humble beginnings, the centre quickly became a trusted space for the diverse inner-city community, responding to the wider needs of children, youth, and families. Food support, youth mentorship, job readiness programmes, and community outreach were added, helping people find encouragement, practical help, and a sense of belonging.
Today, Yeoville continues to be a welcoming place where people from many backgrounds come together to share in God’s word, learn new skills, and support one another. Children are nurtured, young adults are mentored, and migrants and newcomers are met with open arms. Through fellowship, practical initiatives, and spiritual guidance, the centre helps strengthen individuals and families, offering hope and opportunity in the heart of the city.
In 2007, the Bible Education Centre (BEC) opened its doors in the heart of Durban’s CBD. Its purpose has always been clear — to provide free Bible correspondence courses, teaching classes, and topical seminars that help people grow in their faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Over the years, the centre has also offered valuable life skills training such as basic computer literacy and customer care courses, empowering members of the community at no cost. It has become a gathering place where special calendar days are celebrated together, and where people from all walks of life find encouragement, support, and fellowship.
Fully refurbished in 2012, the BEC continues to welcome around 6,000 visitors each year. Open six days a week, it stands as a place of learning and transformation — where the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ is taught and shared in the hope of shaping model citizens now, and in the age to come.
Inanda, a township located 24 km inland from Durban, became home to a Bible Education Centre after the vision first began in the house of local community members. As interest and participation grew, the need for a more permanent space was clear. With faith and determination, a 6-metre shipping container was set up to serve the community in 2018.
From this container, free Bible correspondence courses, teaching classes, and topical seminars are held six days a week. What began as a small effort in a family home has grown into a steady source of learning, encouragement, and hope for the people of Inanda.
In 2015, a 6-metre shipping container on the grounds of the Lamontville Good News Centre was transformed into the Lamontville Bible Education Centre (BEC). From this modest space, community members are offered free Bible correspondence courses, teaching classes, and topical seminars six days a week.
The centre also hosts a small library with children’s books and study aids, opening opportunities for learning and growth. Beyond this, it provides practical services such as printing and CV writing, making it a valuable support hub for the community.
Over time, the Lamontville BEC has become much more than a container – it is a place where people discover God’s Word, draw closer to their Father in heaven, and find resources that help them build stronger, brighter futures.
From crèches to skills training, see how our centres create lasting change in the lives of children, youth, and families.