The family home of the late reggae music legend, Lucky Dube, is surrounded by a stench of sewer that is flowing at a nearby stream.
The Dube family has lost all hope that the situation will change as the problem has been ongoing for years with no assistance from Msukaligwa Municipality.
For many years, sewer from the nearby Ext 32 flowed down to the Dube family farm, the Witbank Plot near the railway station.
“Ext 32 pipes kept getting blocked and the municipality decided on a short-term solution by digging a tunnel so the sewage can flow, however, their promise of returning to put in place a long term solution never materialised,” the sister of the late reggae legend, Ms Virginia Dube said.
The Dube family has no idea where to begin fixing the problem, which is at its worst in the Summer season.
With the heavy rains, the whole yard of the Dube family home is flooded with water as their structure is built below Ext 32.
This leads to sewer also mixing with the water bringing sewer and a stench into the yard and home.
“It has gotten so bad that when we even open the tap, the water from the tap smells of sewer,” Ms Dube said.
Even though the farm is privately owned, the Dube family relies on government services and have to make do with a long drop toilet.
“Its disheartening that we have to use such ablution facilities but we have no choice and even that toilet is not maintained.”
Ms Dube is referring to how the government has a system where long drop toilets are drained and a specific chemical is used to keep the toilets clean and free from vermin.
The family appeals to the powers that be to assist in fixing the Dube home, the sewage pipes surrounding it and provide basic service delivery.
This year marks 12 years since Lucky Dube was killed in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville.
“We are written in history. They sing my brother’s praises and are always saying he grew up in Ermelo at the Witbank Farm.”
“However, I would be ashamed if fans or anyone wanted to visit his family home,” Ms Virginia Dube concluded.
