6-year-old girl killed by lightning

A 6-YEAR-OLD girl was killed after she was struck by lightning in the Maphumulo Local Municipality in the Ilembe district of KwaZulu-Natal.

The child’s death has left Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka concerned about the increasing death toll as a result of inclement weather.

The girl, Enama Naledi Ntuli, was killed in the yard of her grandmother Ntombizodwa Madiba’s home.

Madiba said Enama loved church and reading. She was in Grade 2 at Nsongansonga Primary School.

Hlomuka said: “The news we have received of yet another life lost as a result of inclement weather is devastating. We appeal to all communities to be vigilant as our province continues to experience rough weather conditions which pose a significant risk to human life.”

Ward councillor Hleziphi Khoza said her ward was prone to thunderstorms which were accompanied by lightning but Enama’s death had shocked them. “There is one house, Gcwentsa, that has always been affected by lightning. It would also strike and kill a cow or a person.”

Eleven people have died since storms have swept through parts of the province since January 24.

Two people, Smakade Magwaza, 62, and his grandson, Lwandile Magwaza, 8, are still missing after being swept off the uThukela Bridge between Kranskop and Nkandla on February 12. Searchand-rescue teams have been deployed to help with the search in the crocodile-infested uThukela River.

A total of 16 people were killed by lightning in KZN last year. One victim was a 6-month-old baby.

Hlomuka visited the Ilembe district on Tuesday to hand over a fully equipped fire-and-rescue vehicle to the rural municipality of Ndwedwe so that it could better manage such incidents and assist other municipalities.