Who can use the Soul Center Non-Profit Company registration service? #

The Soul Center Non-Profit Company registration service is available to eligible Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) South Africa members who want to register an approved Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center as a South African Non-Profit Company (NPC).

The service is provided as a Soul Center benefit. It is not a general free company-registration service for the public.

Before you begin, you need to make sure that:

• you are an approved Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa member;
• the organisation is, or will become, an approved Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center;
• the organisation will be registered in South Africa;
• the type of NPC supported by this service is suitable for the organisation; and
• you can provide the directors, information and documents required for the registration.

If you are not yet eligible, that does not necessarily mean that you cannot use the service later. In many cases, there is a clear next step.

You must be an approved Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa member #

The service is provided for eligible Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa members and their Soul Centers.

At the beginning of the application, you will be asked to confirm that you are an approved Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa member.

You will also be asked for the email address used for your Christian Leaders Alliance registration.

Enter this email address exactly as it appears on your Christian Leaders Alliance account.

Your membership will be checked before the NPC registration is processed.

Why does my Christian Leaders Alliance email address matter? #

Your registration email helps Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa identify the correct membership record.

For example, suppose you registered with Christian Leaders Alliance using:

pastor@example.org

but you enter:

office@mychurch.org

in the NPC application.

Even if both addresses belong to you, the second address may not match the Christian Leaders Alliance membership record being checked.

Using the correct registration email can therefore prevent unnecessary delays.

If you are unsure which email address is recorded on your Christian Leaders Alliance account, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk before submitting information that you are unsure about.

The application must be for a Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center #

This service has been created specifically for Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Centers.

A Soul Center can include a church, ministry or another approved Christian Leaders Alliance ministry expression.

The fact that an organisation is already a church or Christian ministry does not automatically mean that it is a registered Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center.

If your church or ministry is already an approved Soul Center, you can continue checking the other eligibility requirements.

What if my church or ministry is not yet a Soul Center? #

You do not need to stop here.

If your church or ministry is not yet an approved Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center, this may be the right time to explore becoming one.

Visit the Soul Centers Programme to learn what a Soul Center is, how the programme works and how your church or ministry can become part of it.

Once your Soul Center has been approved and you meet the other eligibility requirements, you can return to the CLA South Africa Soul Center Non-Profit Company registration portal and continue with the NPC registration process.

If you are unsure whether your ministry fits the Soul Centers Programme, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk and we will help you identify the appropriate next step.

Can I use this service for a church or ministry that is not connected to Christian Leaders Alliance? #

Not through this particular free service.

The R0 administrative registration service is provided as a benefit connected with Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa and the Soul Centers Programme.

However, if your church or ministry is not currently connected with Christian Leaders Alliance, you may wish to explore the Soul Centers Programme first.

That may provide a pathway to becoming eligible for the Soul Center NPC registration service later.

Must the organisation be registered in South Africa? #

Yes.

This service is for the registration of a South African Non-Profit Company.

The company will be registered through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), which is the South African authority responsible for company registration.

The organisation must therefore meet the South African requirements applicable to this registration.

The current application also requires a real physical address in South Africa where the proposed NPC can be contacted.

The service does not register companies in other countries.

What if I personally live outside South Africa? #

Living outside South Africa does not automatically prevent you from being involved.

The current Soul Center registration process can accommodate both South African citizens and foreign nationals as proposed directors.

What matters is that the organisation itself is being registered as a South African NPC and that all required information and documentation can be provided.

Foreign directors have additional identification and certification requirements, which are explained during the application process.

If you are outside South Africa and are uncertain whether your circumstances can be accommodated, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk before starting the application.

Which type of Non-Profit Company does this service support? #

The service currently supports:

a Non-Profit Company without legal company members, using the Short Standard Form.

The relevant CIPC form is Form CoR 15.1C.

The form contains a standard Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI).

A Memorandum of Incorporation is the main legal document containing the fundamental rules that govern a company.

The supported service therefore uses a standard NPC structure rather than specially drafted company rules.

What does “without legal company members” mean? #

This does not mean that your church or ministry cannot have members.

Your Soul Center may still have:

• church members;
• congregation members;
• ministry members;
• attendees;
• volunteers;
• supporters; and
• people who participate in its activities.

Those are members or participants in the ordinary church or ministry sense.

Legal company members are different.

They are a formal group created through the company’s legal structure and given particular rights under its Memorandum of Incorporation.

The CoR 15.1C structure used by this service does not have that separate legal membership group.

The NPC is instead governed by its directors.

For example, a Soul Center might have:

• 75 church members;
• 10 regular volunteers; and
• 4 NPC directors.

The 75 church members and 10 volunteers do not automatically become legal members of the company.

The four directors are responsible for governing the NPC.

What if we need legal company members or different company rules? #

Do not use the standard application if you already know that your organisation requires:

• legal company members;
• specially drafted company rules;
• a customised Memorandum of Incorporation;
• a different type of Non-Profit Company;
• unusual governance arrangements; or
• another legal structure.

Instead, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk.

Explain what your organisation needs and why you believe the standard CoR 15.1C structure may not be suitable.

We can then help you identify the appropriate next step.

This is much better than completing the standard application and discovering later that the company has been created using a structure that does not meet your organisation’s needs.

How many directors do I need? #

A Non-Profit Company must have at least three directors.

The current Soul Center registration service supports applications with three to twelve directors.

A director is a person who takes responsibility for directing and managing the company.

Directors are not simply names added to a registration form.

Before you start, make sure that you have at least three suitable people who:

• know that they are being proposed as directors;
• agree to become directors;
• are willing to provide the required personal information;
• are willing to provide the required identification documents;
• are willing to sign the required registration documents; and
• understand that becoming a director creates real responsibilities.

Do not add someone as a director without their knowledge or merely because you need another name to reach the minimum number.

Does every church leader need to be a director? #

No.

The church or ministry and the NPC are related, but the roles inside them do not automatically have to be identical.

For example, a Soul Center may have:

• a pastor;
• ministry leaders;
• worship leaders;
• volunteers;
• congregation members; and
• NPC directors.

Not every person serving in ministry needs to become a company director.

The people chosen as directors should be people who genuinely understand and accept responsibility for governing the NPC.

Does every church member need to become a director? #

No.

Church membership and company directorship are different.

A congregation may have many members while the NPC has only a small number of directors.

For example, a church with 150 congregation members could still have only three, four or five NPC directors.

There is no requirement in this service for every congregation member to become a company director.

Can a small Soul Center use the service? #

Yes, provided it meets the eligibility and registration requirements.

The current service does not require a Soul Center to have a large congregation before it can apply.

A smaller church or ministry may still benefit from operating through a formal legal organisation.

What matters is that:

• the Soul Center is eligible;
• the supported NPC structure is appropriate;
• there are at least three suitable directors;
• the required information and documents can be provided; and
• those responsible understand the responsibilities that come with operating the NPC.

What if I currently have only one or two possible directors? #

Then you are not yet ready to complete the NPC registration.

The company requires at least three directors.

Do not add someone who does not genuinely intend to serve as a director simply to reach the minimum number.

Instead, take time to identify appropriate people who understand the role and are willing to accept it.

If you need help understanding what the director requirement means, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk before continuing.

Can South African citizens be directors? #

Yes.

South African citizens use their South African identity information for the application.

The person’s legal details must be entered exactly as required and must match the identification document supplied for the registration.

Do not use a nickname, shortened name or ministry title where the application asks for a person’s legal identity details.

Can foreign nationals be directors? #

Yes. The current Soul Center application can accommodate foreign nationals as proposed directors.

A foreign national uses a valid passport for the registration process.

The documentation and certification requirements can differ from those for a South African citizen, particularly where documents are certified outside South Africa.

Follow the current instructions in the NPC application carefully.

If you are uncertain whether a foreign director’s documents will meet the requirements, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk before uploading them.

Does the organisation need a South African physical address? #

Yes.

The current application requires a real physical address in South Africa where the proposed NPC can be contacted.

This is not merely a general description of the area in which the ministry works.

The application asks for address information including:

• street number and street name;
• additional building or unit information where applicable;
• town or city;
• province; and
• postal code.

A postal address is also requested.

If the postal address is the same as the physical address, the application allows you to indicate this.

Do not invent an address simply to complete the application.

The information used for the registration must be accurate.

What if our Soul Center information has changed? #

The information used for the NPC registration should match the current Soul Center information held by Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa where applicable.

If important Soul Center information is out of date, have it corrected before relying on the old information for the company registration.

This could include changes to:

• the Soul Center name;
• location;
• contact information; or
• other important organisational details.

If you are unsure how to update your information, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk.

Correcting discrepancies early can prevent unnecessary delays later.

Do I need all my documents before I check whether I am eligible? #

No.

The first eligibility step is designed to establish whether the service is appropriate for you before you spend time completing the rest of the application.

You do not upload your registration documents during the eligibility check.

However, before completing the full application you will need to be able to obtain the required documents.

These include:

• certified identification for each proposed director;
• the approved Power of Attorney;
• the approved Board Resolution; and
• proof of the applicable official CIPC payment at the final stage.

The NPC application explains what needs to be prepared and when it will be required.

Do I have to pay to check whether I am eligible? #

No.

There is no fee simply for determining whether you qualify to use the service.

For an eligible applicant, the administrative service fee is R0.

You will, however, need to pay the applicable official CIPC charges when required during the registration process.

Always follow the current payment instructions shown in the registration application.

Do not make a payment to somebody simply because they tell you that you must pay them personally to “unlock” or “secure” the free Soul Center registration service.

If you are uncertain about a payment request, contact the Start My Company Support Desk before paying.

Does being eligible guarantee that the NPC will be registered? #

No.

Eligibility means that you meet the requirements to use the Soul Center administrative registration service.

It does not mean that CIPC has already approved the company.

The application still needs to contain the required information and documents, and the official CIPC process still has to be completed.

CIPC remains responsible for the official company-registration process.

Registration assistance therefore cannot guarantee that an application will be approved or completed within a particular period.

What can prevent or delay my eligibility check? #

Problems can arise if:

• the Christian Leaders Alliance registration email does not match the membership record;
• the applicant’s membership cannot be confirmed;
• the Soul Center has not yet been approved;
• important Soul Center information is out of date;
• the organisation is not being registered in South Africa;
• the organisation requires a company structure that the current service does not support; or
• information supplied during the eligibility check is incorrect or incomplete.

Most of these situations do not need to become dead ends.

If something cannot be confirmed, use the Start My Company Support Desk and explain the problem.

If your church or ministry is not yet a Soul Center, visit the Soul Centers Programme to explore that pathway first.

What if I answer an eligibility question incorrectly? #

Do not continue with information that you know is incorrect simply because the application allows you to move to the next step.

Correct the information if the application allows you to go back and change it.

If you cannot correct it yourself, contact the Start My Company Support Desk and tell us:

• which eligibility question was answered incorrectly;
• what you entered; and
• what the correct information should be.

It is much easier to correct an eligibility problem early than after the rest of the application and documents have already been prepared.

What if I am unsure whether our organisation qualifies? #

Ask us before proceeding.

You do not need to make a legal judgement by yourself simply to decide whether to start the application.

Use the Start My Company Support Desk and explain:

• your relationship with Christian Leaders Alliance;
• whether the organisation is already a Soul Center;
• what kind of church or ministry you operate;
• where the organisation will be registered;
• how many proposed directors you have; and
• anything about the proposed structure that you believe may be unusual.

We can then help you understand whether the current service is likely to be the appropriate pathway.

If the issue eventually requires specialist professional advice beyond the administrative service, we will make that clear.

What if I am not yet eligible? #

The next step depends on the reason.

If you are not yet a Soul Center #

Visit the Soul Centers Programme and explore becoming an approved Soul Center.

Once approved, you can return to the CLA South Africa NPC portal.

If your organisation needs a different NPC structure #

Contact the Start My Company Support Desk before proceeding.

Explain what you need so that we can help identify the appropriate pathway.

If your Christian Leaders Alliance membership cannot be confirmed #

Contact the Start My Company Support Desk with the relevant membership details so that the problem can be investigated.

If you do not yet have three suitable directors #

Do not rush the process.

Identify suitable people who genuinely understand and agree to serve as directors before continuing.

If the organisation will not be registered in South Africa #

This particular service cannot register the organisation as a company in another country.

If you are uncertain whether there is another pathway that may be relevant, contact the Start My Company Support Desk.

What should I check before continuing? #

Before moving forward, make sure you can truthfully confirm that:

• I am an approved Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa member.
• This application is for an approved Christian Leaders Alliance Soul Center, or I am completing the Soul Center process first.
• The organisation will be registered in South Africa.
• The organisation has a real physical address in South Africa.
• We want the supported Non-Profit Company without legal company members using the Short Standard Form.
• We have at least three genuine proposed directors.
• The proposed directors know that they are being appointed and agree to serve.
• We can provide the information and documentation required for the registration.
• We understand that the administrative service fee is R0 but official CIPC charges remain payable.
• We understand that company registration creates ongoing responsibilities after the NPC is registered.

If you cannot confirm one of these points, use the guidance above or contact the Start My Company Support Desk before continuing.

What happens next? #

Once you know that you are eligible, continue through the Start Here guidance.

The next article explains what the free Soul Center NPC registration service does and does not include.

The remaining Start Here articles will also explain:

• what you will need to pay;
• what you should prepare before starting; and
• how the registration process works from beginning to end.

When you are ready, you can start the Soul Center Non-Profit Company application.

If anything remains unclear, use the Start My Company Support Desk before submitting information that you do not understand.

Important note #

The Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa Soul Center Non-Profit Company registration service and this Knowledgebase provide administrative guidance and general information.

They do not provide legal, business, tax, accounting, financial or other professional advice.

The current service supports the standard CoR 15.1C Non-Profit Company structure without legal company members.

If you are unsure whether this structure is appropriate, contact us through the Start My Company Support Desk first.

Official company-registration requirements, forms, government procedures, systems and fees can change. Current requirements of the relevant South African authority always take precedence.

Applicants remain responsible for providing truthful, complete and accurate information.

Eligibility to use the Soul Center registration service does not guarantee approval of the company registration by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

Last checked against official information: 21 August 2026