MATHIBESTAD - The Mathibestad community in North West is still in shock after a lightning strike killed two people over the weekend.
The lightning bolt struck a large group of people who were attending the Mphebatho Troop Festival held at the Dertig Sports Ground on Saturday, leaving 13 others seriously injured.
Moretele mayor George Mayike says the event has been part of the area’s culture for more than a century.
But questions have been raised about safety precautions, especially after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Level 5 weather warning for the entire province ahead of the weekend.
Mayike says that, according to organisers, they were assured that everything was in order.
He says it was only later, when he heard on the news about warnings related to cloud activity near the Magaliesberg Mountains.
“We are far from that area, so we didn’t expect this. This is the first incident like this in many years. Since we were born, we’ve never experienced something like this," Mayike.
Mayike says everyone has been discharged except one, who is still awaiting a doctor’s report.
Despite the tragedy, organisers say the event is likely to continue in future, but with stricter safety measures in place.