The residents of Ha-Mutsha village outside Thohoyandou suspect an act of witchcraft, after a young man was struck by lightning on Wednesday.

Malikwa Allen Mulaudzi (20) was playing pool at a tuck shop in the village when he was struck by lightning. He died instantly, while his two friends Maanea Nephawe (14), and Olga Makhuvha (18), were injured during the incident and rushed to the nearby Tshilidzini Hospital. One is still recovering in the hospital, while the other one was discharged.

WO Solly Mukhola confirmed the incident. According to Mukhola, an inquest docket has been opened. “The incident took place at about 17:15. When we arrived at the scene, the young man was lying dead on the ground."

Now community members suspect the incident was an act of witchcraft. “How can he be singled out amongst his 16 friends who were inside the tuck shop? Somebody knows what really happened here. This is witchcraft ...,” they said. According to Mukhola, the police had to calm the angry crowd at the scene.

Mulaudzi was a Grade 9 pupil at Nndamuleleni Secondary school in the village. His aunt, Ms Sylvia Khameli, said the family is still shocked about the incident. "He was still young and he did not deserve to die like that. We still do not believe that what happened has really happened," she said.

The family says they do not have money to bury him. His unemployed parents are now appealing to members of the community to assist them to bury their son. "If we can have somebody who can assist us with the money to bury our son, his soul will rest in peace," said the deceased´s mother, Mrs Maria Mulaudzi.

He is survived by his father, mother, two brothers and a sister.

The family is planning to bury him tomorrow. Anyone out there who wants to assist can contact the family at 072 3373 613.