Ebrahim writes:

It was very disturbing and disappointing to be informed about the headlines of front page of the Sondag Son (6 March), 'Celebs en skrywers raak ryk uit haar storie' / 'Ellen se lee Pakkies'. After reading it, I was quite angered by the insensitivity of it all. The slovenly reporting and pitiful attempt at creating sensation made me realise exactly why people are advised not to read this newspaper.

For so long, South African artists have been battling to tell South African stories. It is a well-known fact that every time a movie is made about one of our own, an international actor is imported to play the lead role. We kick up a fuss, moan about it in the press, curse the union for allowing it to happen, and perhaps boycott the outcome. Now that someone has again taken the initiative to locally produce one of these stories for the stage, it is some members of the press who are trying their best to crush it before it even reaches the public.

The tragic story of Ellen and Adam Pakkies is a not just a lesson about the usage of tik, which has reached epidemic proportions far beyond the borders of the Western Cape. (Meth amphetamine is the most commonly used drug in the world!) It touches the very soul of humanity and speaks to the basic need for love, the intricacies of family and the role that society plays with regard to its responsibility towards our children.

My naam/name is Ellen Pakkies is the brainchild of playwright/director/author/actress, Lizz Meiring, after seeing Mike Duffets'
documentary on C&I, DStv one evening. After a conversation with myself and various other people, we contacted Mrs Pakkies, flew to Cape Town at our own expense, and in agreement with her, after a long conversation, witnessed by Christo Davids (actor), Stephen Smith (friend) and Sheila Jacobs (friend), a contract was signed stating that she gives us the rights to do the stage production and that we, in turn, pay her a percentage of the box office as one would pay rights to any author for the use of their work. Now, one has to clearly understand that the story is public domain and can be used without any payment being made to Mrs Pakkies, but we decided otherwise.

This production has cost the producers, Lizz Meiring, Christo Davids and myself, in excess of R30 000 so far and will eventually amount to R250 000 with no salaries taken for the rehearsal period of four weeks (which we have funded from our own pockets). All attempts for sponsorship have thus far been unsuccessful, but we feel so strongly driven to bring this story to a broader audience, that we are committed to continue generating the funds ourselves. We hope that by doing so, we can, in whichever small way, help Mrs Pakkies to reach her goal of starting a rehabilitation centre. The irony is that with headlines like that of the Sondag Son, this may not happen.

It is also a well-known fact that with the exception of a few entertainers, no actor in this country ever gets rich from doing theatre! I invite you to do the math.