THE family had their TV and decoder plugged in when lightning struck a plot in Randfontein on Friday, 3 December.
Suddenly, the TV and decoder exploded and burnt, suffocating the 36-year-old father and his six-month-old daughter.
When neighbours and the man’s brother opened the door, they were greeted by heavy smoke.
The baby’s mum was still alive and she managed to explain what happened before being rushed to hospital, where she’s still recovering.
The dead man’s brother (26) said he received a call from his brother’s live-in girlfriend, telling him to urgently come to their room.
He told cops he went to the room, found the door locked and saw smoke. He said he forced the door open and found the room swallowed by smoke.
The dead man’s girlfriend pointed out his body, which was lying on the floor.
“I saw the couple’s six-month-old baby’s body on the bed,” said the brother.
He then noticed smoke coming from a TV set and decoder.
The deaths confused residents and cops, as the room wasn’t burnt, but just the two gadgets.
Alpheus Tlou, a resident from a nearby plot, said he couldn’t believe he was with the man earlier in the day before he died.
“Little did I know it was the last time I’d see him alive,” he said.
Residents said there was lightning that night.
“We don’t know if it caused the fire,” said Sakhile Ndlovu, another resident.
Captain Solomon Sibiya said they opened an inquest docket and the matter was being investigated.
He said they were waiting for post mortem results to determine the cause of deaths.
