THE two family members who were rushed to hospital on Friday after being struck by lightning were discharged on Monday.
Nomusa Mngomezulu (35) from Ngonyameni Village, northern KZN, and her son Ayabonga (9) were in the house during the incident and are recovering at home.
But grade 5 pupil Thulebona (12) died.
Family member Gugu (49) told Daily Sun they were still trying to come to terms with what had happened.
“I don’t live with them but my house is in the area,” said Gugu.
“I was alerted to the incident by Thulebona’s dad Velaphi (54).
“He told me he had found them lying unconscious on his return from work.”
Velaphi initially thought he had lost all three family members.
“Even though Nomusa doesn’t want to speak about it, she has told us the only thing she saw was a fireball and doesn’t remember what happened after that.”
Gugu said they were thinking of moving.
“We know if lightning strikes a place, it’s most likely to strike again,” he said.
“So we’re planning to advise them to get another area where they can start a new home.”
Jozini mayor Delani Mabika visited the family on Monday.
“We’re going to help them with burial costs because we saw they need a helping hand,” Mabika told the People’s Paper.
Mabika said should the family wish to continue living at their home, the municipality would
provide them with lightning conductors.
Two cows also died.
