Mahikeng, North West -
A third person has been reported dead in torrential rainfall in the Mahikeng area, North West police said on Wednesday.
An 80-year-old woman was found dead on Tuesday afternoon, beneath a tree between Rantse and Marotse village, said Lt-Col Lesego Metsi.
Mosebi Lenah Motsemme was walking home after visiting her daughter in another village.
“Due to heavy rainfall she lost direction and decided to seek shelter under a tree,” Metsi said.
When she did not return home, her son went looking for her and found her beneath the tree, dead.
Two people were found dead in Madibogo South on Tuesday night, Metsi said.
The first death was a 22-year-old man, who was caught in heavy rain while walking home. His aunt said he coughed the entire night and was unable to walk or talk before dying.
The second was a 52-year-old man who was found dead in a field used for grazing animals.
“It is suspected that he could have been struck by lightning while looking for his cattle when caught up in the heavy rains on his way back.”
The Motsitlane, Dikgatlhong, and Lenganeng sections of Madibogo village have been hit by heavy storms this week.
Metsi said one house had been destroyed, a tavern and several other houses had been damaged, and several families had been left homeless. The damage was estimated at R80 000.
He said the house which was destroyed had belonged to the family of Selina Tsubane, 40, who lived there with her three children and two nieces. She survived on child support grants. - Sapa