About 300 families were left homeless and two Durban teenagers were killed in two separate incidents during a severe thunderstorm at the weekend.
According to the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department, it is believed that Siphosethu Ngxola, 17, and Sphamandla Zwane, 19, were electrocuted at the Welbedacht East temporary transit camps near Chatsworth.
But it is unknown whether the teenagers were struck by lightning during Saturday night’s fierce storm or electrocuted as one of them was found holding a burnt electrical cable. Siphosethu’s twin sister, Siphokazi, said on Sunday her younger brother rushed to look for their brother after hearing people shouting that somebody had been struck by lightning.
“It was raining heavily and there was thunder and lightning. Minutes later neighbours came to our house with news that Siphosethu was dead,” she said.
Sphamandla had just left his home at about 8.30pm to watch soccer when he was electrocuted, according to his friend, Ongama Luthuli.
Another witness, Gugu Zikhali, said she believed the teenagers were electrocuted.
“Sphamandla was holding an electrical cord in his hand when I found him and Siphosethu lay next to him in a crouched position.
“I removed the electrical cord using a wooden broomstick,” she said.
Fikile Gwala, a resident, said the conditions in which they lived forced them to use illegal electricity connections because the eThekwini municipality would not electrify their transit camps.
“We have been living here for four years and this place is a bush so we had no choice but to steal electricity. This place is a health and safety hazard,” she added.
The incident came days after five people were killed in Bergville when their rondavel was struck by lightning and caught alight.
Saturday night’s thunderstorm displaced hundreds of people whose homes at the Cato Crest informal settlement, near Cato Manor, were flooded.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube said the department would assist the two families of the lightning victims with funeral arrangements. The displaced families have been provided with temporary shelter at a community hall.
She said the department would work with the municipality to improve the Welbedacht residents’ living conditions. “We will look at ensuring that they are provided with electricity in a proper manner.”
Meanwhile, Sapa reports that a 13-year-old boy was killed and 12 other boys were injured in a lightning strike in Soweto on Saturday. The children were playing soccer on a field in Protea Glen when a bolt of lightning struck, ER24’s Andre Visser said. The Mercury