The Office of the Public Protector (PP) is investigating allegations of undue delays by the Master of the High Court in finalising the deceased estates of Frederick Samuel Modise and his wife, Bertha Modise.
The investigation follows a formal complaint lodged by Modise’s youngest child and remaining heir, Jaqueline Modise, who accused the Master of the High Court of dragging its feet in winding up the estate.
Details of the investigation are contained in two letters sent by the PP to Jaqueline on separate dates.
In the first letter, dated 20 November 2024, the PP’s acting executive manager, Maselaelo Mnyathela, confirmed receipt of Jaqueline’s complaint regarding the administration of the estate.
“On 11 November 2024, you lodged a complaint with the Public Protector and alleged, inter alia, that you lodged a grievance in respect of the challenges and frustrations you experienced in the administration of the estate of the late FS Modise and SB Modise, which have been under the supervision of the Master of the High Court for a period of over 20 years.
“The Pretoria Master’s Office has a complete file and all relevant information in respect of the matter,” Mnyathela wrote.
She further stated that Jaqueline had filed a review application, as advised by the Master’s Office, and received acknowledgement of receipt from the Office of the Chief Master.
“However, to date, still no response or indication has been provided as to whether the application is being attended to and what the status and progress thereof is.
“The Pretoria Master’s Office has failed to hold the executor of the estate to account in respect of all the concerns raised by the heirs of the estates, and the Office of the Chief Master is aiding in doing so by failing to hold them to account and speedily attend to the review application, whilst the executor and the master continue to attend to the estate and process filed liquidation and distribution (L&D) accounts and documents which do not even accurately reflect the assets or value of the estate,” she wrote.
Mnyathela also asked Jaqueline to explain why it had taken more than two years to lodge the complaint and requested documentary evidence to support her claims.
Jaqueline subsequently submitted the relevant documents to the PP, which undertook to investigate the matter and issue findings. However, the investigation itself was later delayed.
In a follow-up communication, PP senior investigator Mzabo Mnguni apologised for the delay.
“Kindly be informed that due to other work commitments and the training undergone by investigators in the office, it was not possible to meet the timeline that was set for 31 May 2025. Therefore, we are anticipating finalising the adjudication of the matter by, at the latest, 30 June 2025.
“Kindly accept my apology for the inconvenience this might have caused,” reads the email.
Speaking to Africa Daily, Jaqueline accused the PP of dragging its feet in concluding the investigation.
“I don’t know what’s causing the delay in this matter,” she said.
Jaqueline said she is the youngest of Frederick Modise’s six children and is entitled to inherit from her father’s estate.
She further alleged that Glayton Modise, who succeeded Frederick Modise after his death, was not the biological child of either Frederick or Bertha Modise.
According to Jaqueline, Glayton was the child of Baby Sekano, who she said was her late mother’s sister.
She claimed that Glayton was “a Sekano, not a Modise”, and therefore his sons — Tshepiso Modise, Leonard Modise and Michael Sandlana — are not legitimate heirs to the Modise lineage.
Jaqueline said that when Frederick Modise died in 1998, he left behind a will bequeathing his assets to her mother.
She has now called on those claiming to be rightful heirs to undergo DNA testing to determine whether they are biologically linked to the Modise bloodline.
The International Pentecost Holiness Church split into three factions after Glayton Modise’s death in 2016.
Tshepiso, who was expected to succeed his father, established his own branch in Springs after his brother Leonard and half-brother Sandlana opposed his ascendancy to the throne.
Leonard later established his own branch, known as Silo, which operates from the IPHC headquarters in Zuurbekom, while Sandlana founded another branch called Jerusalem in Heidelberg.
The divisions emerged after Leonard and Sandlana both claimed to be the rightful successors to lead the church following Glayton’s death.
Jaqueline said it was time for the family to unite and undergo paternity tests to determine who genuinely carries the Modise bloodline.PP spokesperson Ndili Msoki confirmed that they are still investigating the matter.
“The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) confirms that it is investigating the matter. Our
investigation process includes evaluating evidence, and applying the appropriate legal framework before any findings can be finalised.
The PPSA will communicate the findings once the investigation is concluded,” he said.
