CAPE TOWN – Ellen Pakkies, a Lavender Hill mother whose story drew global attention in 2007 after being convicted for the death of her drug-addicted son, has recently announced her candidacy for Cape Town mayor.

Representing the National Coloured Congress (NCC), Pakkies says her decision to enter politics stems from a desire to address what she sees as deep-rooted social neglect affecting communities on the Cape Flats.

Pakkies became a widely recognised figure after receiving a suspended sentence and community service in 2008, a case that highlighted the lack of support for families dealing with Tik (methamphetamine) addiction.

Since then, she has been an outspoken advocate for affected families, using her experience to raise awareness around substance abuse and its impact on communities.

Speaking in a recent radio interview on CapeTalk’s Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit, Pakkies said her lived experience gives her a clear understanding of the daily challenges faced by residents in areas such as Lavender Hill.

Poorer communities ignored

She believes these communities have been overlooked for years and require urgent and meaningful intervention.

“I have joined the NCC because it refuses to ignore the people that the system has failed. For too many years our communities have been treated like an afterthought. I just want to make a change, it’s not about the money.

Our communities have been failed and nobody cared about it; it’s just now and then we see the government come to our communities. Too many mothers, fathers and young people’s lives have been ruined and nothing has changed,” she said on air.

Her campaign focuses on tackling drug abuse, crime and poverty.

Tackling drug addiction

Among her priorities are shutting down drug dens, increasing access to rehabilitation services and strengthening social development programmes.

She argues that more rehabilitation centres and sustainable job opportunities are needed to break the cycle of addiction and violence.

“I also want to work on service delivery because when people live in poverty things go from bad to worse. But I believe our communities can change,” she said.

Pakkies also highlighted that many families continue to face the same struggles she experienced nearly two decades ago.

Future goals

She said her goal is to bring about real change and ensure that communities are no longer ignored.

By stepping into the political arena, Pakkies aims to turn her personal tragedy into a platform for action.

She hopes to hold local government accountable and push for practical solutions to long-standing social challenges affecting Cape Town’s most vulnerable communities.

People’s Post reached out to Ellen Pakkies and the NCC for comment but they had not respond before the time of publication.

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