Turning tragedy into triumph through devotion to community – Tongaat

Following the early deaths of both his wife and daughter, pastor Krish Pillay has devoted his life to helping his community.

Originally from KwaDukuza, pastor Pillay has spent most of his life in Tongaat, where he worked for 30 years as a legal clerk.

He married his beloved wife Lizzy in 1975 and together they had one child, a daughter named Starling. In the space of 10 years, Pillay (76) lost Starling at 17 and Lizzy at 54 which led to him developing the Starliz Rehab and Medical Centre Foundation based in Chelmsford Heights, Tongaat.

He wanted to pour his efforts into something that would benefit the Tongaat community which in turn would honour those he lost.

The construction of the centre is well underway and Pillay hopes that the first floor will be finished by the end of September.

Although he was studying towards a law degree, Pillay’s life fell apart after the death of his daughter and he found it difficult to go to work and study.

“After the death of my daughter I gave my life to Christ and got involved in community work. I was approached by the South African National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) to counsel and minister the youth at NICRO on the North Coast,” said Pillay.

NICRO is a non-profit which helps those with criminal records and troubled pasts to reintegrate into society.

Following further personal difficulties which included a bypass in 2007, Pillay left NICRO to form his own church, the Gateway to Heaven Ministries (GHM) in 2010.

The funds for the initial building came as a final gift from Lizzy who had worked tirelessly, fundraising to facilitate the building of a church.

“My wife’s entire life was devoted to caring for the poor. She used to collect old clothes and sell them, the proceeds from which she would buy groceries to feed the poor. She also raised funds by holding banquets. The money raised from these initiatives were used to support a feeding scheme and set up a building fund that amounted to R130 000 at the end of 2019.”

The Starliz Centre will focus on helping troubled youth who have had issues with drugs and alcoholism as well as the elderly who need frail care.

While the centre is being built, GHM continue to raise funds and essential goods that are donated back into Tongaat and the surrounding communities.

“We have made sure that the elderly in our community have had access to food throughout the unrest and time of Covid-19. This has been through grocery hampers and hot meals.”

To aid this side of the ministry, GHM have purchased a 10 acre plot on the outskirts of Tongaat which is going to be turned into an organic vegetable farm.

Contact Pastor Pillay at 0724378225 or Andrew Pillay at 084 965 6388.

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