Lightning kills gr. 12 learner and injures two others

JACKIE Matjea (19), a gr. 12 learner at Seripa High School in Ga-Tibu village near Bochum was laid to rest last Saturday.

Matjea and his three friends were on their way home from school when they were struck by lightning. Matjea’s friends survived the ordeal, and they received treatment in hospital, according to Matjea’s brother, Godfrey.

His father, Solomon said he was very hurt over what had happened to his son. “I will never see him again, he didn’t deserve to die like that.

“My wife collapsed after being told about his death.

“He died at a very young age. I don’t even have the words to express how we feel,” he said.

He said his son’s clothes had been shredded and his shoes were ripped off his feet by the force of the lightning.

He further said he blamed government’s lack of service delivery for his son’s death.

“If there were schools and transport in our village, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said, adding that due to a lack of these things, it was difficult for children to attend school.

Matjea’s mother, Angelina said her son was a good person.

“He liked making jokes with me, and I miss him day and night. He was a very respectful child. Education was everything to him and my home will never be the same without him,” she said through her tears.

“The last time I spoke to him was on the Monday before the accident when he was going to school and I was going to work. He promised to clean the house and cook when he came back from school, but that never happened. Jackie will always be in my heart.”