Johannesburg – The house of the late Reverend Frederick Samuel Modise in Meadowlands, Soweto is now a heritage site.
On Monday, (8 July 2024), the City of Johannesburg, in partnership with the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, unveiled the internationally recognised symbol, the “Blue Heritage Plaques” in recognition of the historical significance of ReverendModise’s house in Soweto.
JoziFmNews reports that the plaques unveiled by MMC Lubabalo Magwentshu together with the Comforter of the International Pentecost Holiness church, His Grace, TS Modise display the significant history the house carries, for both the church and the transition of residents who lived in Sophiatown before they were forcibly moved to Meadowlands during the apartheid era.
The house was initially used by the Native Settlement Board as a reception office for new residents coming from Sophiatown to Meadowlands according to history.
History narrates that on arrival, displaced residents from Sophiatown were given a pint of milk and two loaves of bread before being assigned to different zones in Meadowlands, according to their ethnic backgrounds.
It was in this house, where Reverend Frederick Samuel Modise started the church.
The house had become his home when he moved from Sophiatown.
After 35 years in ministry, International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) founder “The Comforter” Reverend Modise died in 1998.
Meanwhile, JoziFmNews reports that the church’s current leader, Comforter TS Modise, said the Modise family, and the entire International Pentecost Holiness church, were blessed to receive such recognition to the historic house.
Comforter TS Modise has since launched his own foundation whose objective is to work with other stakeholders to alleviate poverty and build social cohesion among communities according to him.
