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Heritage Sites

Rev. Frederick S. Modise House

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Last Updated: July 7, 2025
Picture 2
Rev FS Modise Blue Plaque April 2025 Marc Latilla
REv FS Modise Drive Blue Plaque April 2025 Marc Latilla
Rev FS Modise House corner April 2025 Marc Latilla
Rev FS Modise House unveiling plaque April 2025 Marc Latilla
Rev FS Modise western aspect April 2025 Marcx Latilla

About Rev. Frederick S. Modise House

The Rev Frederick Samuel Modise house, adorned in the colors of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), prominently stands on Reverend Frederick S. Modise Street. Originally a four-room “matchbox house,” it was expanded in the 80s with two additional rooms and painted white with red accents. Attached to the main modern house is a double-storey building featuring two parking garages.

Address

119 Rev. F.S. Modise Drive, Meadowlands East, Soweto

History

Beginning in 1955, during the forced removals carried out by apartheid police, families from Sophiatown were uprooted and relocated to Meadowlands and other segregated townships. During this tumultuous period, the house was used as a reception office managed by the Native Resettlement Board. Upon arrival at this location, the displaced residents were provided with a pint of milk and two loaves of bread as a small gesture of sustenance before being directed to their new homes. The relocation process was strictly organized, with families who had been part of the multi-cultural community of Sophiatown being split up into separate tribal and ethnic categories. People were assigned to different zones within Meadowlands based on their ethnic backgrounds. Consequently, communities were divided into separate zones for Zulu, Tswana, Sotho, and Tsonga peoples.

In the years that followed, this notable building transitioned from its role as a resettlement office to becoming the home of Reverend Frederick Modise. Reverend Modise, the founder of one of the largest and most rapidly growing African Indigenous churches, brought a new significance to the house with his residence. Thus, the house, once a symbol of displacement and segregation, evolved into a landmark associated with the spiritual leadership of Reverend Modise.

Born in 1914 in the small village of Rooiberg, near Bela-Bela in Limpopo province, Modise's early life was characterized by poverty and hardship, which shaped his empathetic approach to ministry. His journey from a labourer to a revered religious leader is a testament to the transformative power of faith and charismatic leadership.

Modise's early years were marked by struggle. He worked in various low-paying jobs, including as a miner, experiencing firsthand the harsh conditions faced by the working class. He became a ZCC Minister in meadowlands, a carpenter, and one of the richest undertakers in the area.

In 1962, a severe illness led to a transformative spiritual experience for Modise. While bedridden, he reported having a vision in which he was visited by God, who revealed to him his divine calling. After he was admitted to Coronationville Hospital on 12 September 1962 at midnight a voice told him to pray. This vision was the genesis of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, as Modise felt compelled to spread the message of divine healing and salvation.

Following his spiritual awakening, Modise founded the IPHC and began his ministry in Meadowlands, Soweto. His reputation as a healer and prophet quickly spread, drawing many followers seeking both spiritual solace and physical healing. Modise’s charismatic leadership and emphasis on Pentecostal worship practices, including speaking in tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healings, resonated deeply with people, leading to rapid expansion of the church.

The church’s headquarters were established in Zuurbekom, west of Johannesburg, which became a pilgrimage destination for members seeking healing and spiritual renewal. Under Modise’s leadership, the IPHC undertook several large-scale infrastructure projects, including the construction of schools, clinics, and housing for the poor. This reflected the church’s commitment to social welfare, combining spiritual guidance with practical assistance.

Statement of Significance

Founded at the Rev. F.S. Modise House in Meadowlands, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), left an indelible mark on the religious and social landscape of South Africa. The Modise House is associated with a major religious leader, and holds significant value for many in Meadowlands and beyond due to its religious and spiritual connections. Reverend Modise, the founder of one of the largest and rapidly expanding African Indigenous churches, established a religious community with around 165 branches across the country and extending to Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. The church is centered around the charismatic personality of Frederick Modise, especially renowned for his healing abilities. Before being occupied by Rev. Modise, the house played a key role as a relocation centre in the mass forced removals from Sophiatown which took place from 1955 to 1961. Ethnic segregation of communities was orchestrated from here, as part of the divisive apartheid policy of the time. This served to shape the spatial organization of Meadowlands into different ethnic zones, an arrangement which largely still persists to this day. The site is important for the history of forced removals which affected millions of people across South Africa, which was a major thrust of apartheid social engineering during this period. The site provides a major link in the continuing story of communities displaced from Sophiatown.

Inscription

In 2024, this house was honored with two blue plaques awarded by the City of Johannesburg together with the Johannesburg heritage Foundation. One plaque details the early history of the house prior to its acquisition by Rev. Modise, while the other recounts the development of the church. The inscriptions on the plaques read as follows: FROM SOPHIATOWN TO MEADOWLANDS 119 Rev. Frederick S. Modise Drive, Meadowlands Starting in 1955 when families from Sophiatown were forcefully removed by apartheid police to Meadowlands and other segregated townships, this house was used by the Native Resettlement Board as a reception office. On arrival here, displaced residents were given a pint of milk and two loaves of bread, before being sent to their new homes. People were assigned to different zones in Meadowlands, according to their ethnic backgrounds, separated as Zulu, Tswana, Sotho, and Tsonga. Later this landmark building became the home of Rev. Modise. REV. F.S. MODISE HOUSE 119 Rev. Frederick S. Modise Drive, Meadowlands Rev Frederick Samuel Modise (1914-1998) founded the International Pentecost Holiness Church in 1962. After moving from Sophiatown, this became the home of Rev Modise, where he founded the IPHC. The church began as a prayer group in this house, grew into a formal congregation, and spread rapidly through Southern Africa. Known by followers as “The Comforter”, Rev. Modise was famed for his proclaimed ability to provide spiritual and physical healing. A panel below the plaques reads: Plaques unveiled on 8 July 2024 By Cllr. Lubabalo Magwentshu Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development And Comforter TS Modise Leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church and grandson of Rev. FS Modise

Legal Status

General Protection: Section 34 (1) Structures under the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999.

Photo courtesy: Kabelo Mokoena (Sunday Times)

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