Ellen Pakkies announces Cape Town mayoral bid, pledges war on drug dens and social neglect

Ellen Pakkies, the Lavender Hill mother who made international headlines for the 2007 killing of her drug-addicted son, has announced her candidacy for Mayor of Cape Town. Representing the National Coloured Congress (NCC), Pakkies says her decision to enter local politics is driven by a belief that the city’s people have lost their way.

Despite being convicted for the death of her son, Pakkies famously received a suspended sentence and community service in 2008—a landmark case that highlighted the desperate lack of support for families ravaged by tik (methamphetamine) addiction. Now, she seeks to take that advocacy to the corridors of power.

Speaking on CapeTalk’s Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit, Pakkies emphasised that her lived experience uniquely qualifies her to represent the Cape Flats. She argued that these areas have long been marginalised by the current administration.

"For too long our communities have been treated like an afterthought," Pakkies said. "It’s about putting those communities first and demanding more accountability, not just talk."

Pakkies’ campaign centres on the social crises she has spent nearly two decades navigating. Her key priorities include the aggressive shutting down of drug dens, the expansion of rehabilitation services, and the strengthening of social development programmes. She maintains that there is an urgent need for more rehabilitation centres and tangible job opportunities to effectively tackle the cycles of addiction and crime.

Reflecting on the ongoing struggles within her community, Pakkies noted that little has changed for many parents since her own tragedy.

"I want to just make a change," she explained. "A change because it’s not just about the money, but it’s about our communities and our communities were failed. Mothers are still going through the same struggle."

By pivoting from a symbol of community tragedy to a political contender, Pakkies intends to pressure the municipal government to move beyond rhetoric and address the systemic failures facing the Cape Flats.