A substance-abuse support group is working with Ellen Pakkies to help addicts and their families.
In 2007, Ms Pakkies strangled her abusive, drug-addicted son, Abie, to death – her actions were the culmination of years of trauma she had suffered since her childhood.
In 2008, the Lavender Hill mother was given a three-year suspended sentence and 280 hours of community service. She had to share her story as part of her community service.
A movie about her life has raked in several awards since its release in August.
Ms Pakkies is now working with Silver Linings, a support group started by Silvertown Baptist Church five years ago.
The church also hosts community meetings under lampposts in Silvertown, Parktown and Bridgetown, where residents meet to talk about various issues.
Even though Ms Pakkies completed her community service years ago, she still shares her story whenever invited to do so by communities plagued by drug addiction.
“I do this, because there are lot of parents still going through a lot of challenges with their children, and they don’t know where to go for help,” she said.
“I asked the Lord to take me places and meet people, and this is how He opened up for me. There might be a mother in the crowd who never told her husband about her rape, or maybe her son is on drugs and she feels the world is on her shoulders. God sent Silver Linings and Pastor Edgar Carolissen in at the right time.”
The support group meets every Tuesday evening, but now it has extended its services, so that support and counselling are available from Mondays to Wednesdays, from 8.30am to 4pm at the church.
Once a month, Ms Pakkies will join the team at the support group.
“I am not shy of what the Lord has done in my life. I always asked God to send someone who could help me. Now I am excited for what God has done. I was a very withdrawn person, but when Abie happened, the magistrate told me to go out and speak to others. Now I am so grateful. I can say thank you,” Ms Pakkies said.
“Even if the support can change one person’s life, it will be a lot. The Lord gave me the courage to overcome so much. I never asked God why He put all those difficulties in my life. I just say thank you. We need to run to the Lord if we are wondering how to handle a situation.”
Mr Carolissen, the coordinator of the support group, said Silver Linings would be working with the Ellen Pakkies Foundation in Lavender Hill from next year. They would “hold hands and learn from one another through workshops”, he said, adding he was grateful for Ms Pakkies’s help.
