Lightning strike ten dead at Umuziwabantu Municipality

LAST week, 10 people in the Umuziwabantu Municipality lost their lives to lightning. Seven people were killed in KwaMachi, near Harding, on Wednesday, while three more people died on Thursday.

Daily Sun reported that tragically, one of the victims was just 14 years old.

Teenager Ayanda Hlangu was taking food out of the oven when he was hit by lightning at his home in Oshabeni, near Harding, on Wednesday.

Three schools, a clinic, a church building and several houses were also destroyed by heavy storms.

Inkosi Bathebuya Cele (39) said heavy wind, rain, hail and lightning had caused a lot of damage.

"There won't be classes at Inhlalwane Primary School for quite a while as the school is in a terrible condition," he said.

Resident Bongani Mthembu (51) said his house and four outside buildings were destroyed.

"We have to rebuild our houses but I don't know where we will get the money," he said.

A disaster management team led by mayor Mphuthumi Mpabanga has been going door to door to provide support to affected families.

KZN MEC for co-operative governance, Nomusa Dube-Ncube visited some of the families and said more lightning conductors would be sent to the affected areas.

Department of education spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said: "We are aware of the situation of the three schools in Highflats and we are working on them through a disaster programme."