By Anita Dangazele
- A lightning storm in Nomcamba Village claimed the lives of a mother and her daughter, leaving their struggling family unable to afford the funeral.
- A tragedy struck Nomcamba Village when a lightning storm killed two family members and livestock, highlighting the family’s dire living conditions.
A lightning storm in the Eastern Cape struck Nomcamba Village in Ngqeleni this week, killing two family members and several goats.
Nomakhaladi Silaza, 47, and her daughter Nomakhwezi Silaza, 23, who was a Walter Sisulu University student and set to be the family’s first graduate, died in the tragic incident.
Two other children from the Silaza family were injured and taken to hospital.
The family of seven lives in a two-room mud house and is struggling to raise funds to bury their loved ones.
Family spokesperson Thembelani Mnguni said they cannot afford the funeral costs.
“We were hopeful that Nomakhwezi would graduate and lift this family out of poverty, but she has now passed away. The lightning storm struck the goats first, then entered through the window and hit those inside the house,” Mnguni said.
Zilindile Hibanaa, councillor for Ward 20, said he was shocked by the family’s living conditions when he visited after the incident.
“I was horrified. This family urgently needs help to bury their loved ones. I have contacted disaster management to assist them,” he said.
Anyone wishing to donate towards the funeral of Nomakhaladi and Nomakhwezi Silaza can contact family spokesperson Thembelani Mnguni at 0731321320.
The family has yet to set a date for the funeral as they wait for support.
Pictured above: A lightning bolt.
Source: Facebook.