LUSIKISIKI – A grade 12 learner from Buhlanyanga Senior Secondary School, Lathitha Nako (18), was struck by lightning while sleeping with her two siblings in their home at Buhlanga locality in Lusikisiki recently.
She was laid to rest at her home last weekend. Besides being a Grade 12 learner, she was one of the girls attending virginity testing under the supervision of Nophelo Sigaba.
Family spokesperson, Lungiswa Nako (25), said the incident happened on February 4, around 20:30. The trio was sleeping when the lightning struck.
“Lathitha was sleeping with her youngest brother, while the third sibling was sleeping on the floor. What is mysterious is that it struck only her and did not harm the others. She was a loving girl who always dreamed of building a house for her mother when she finished school. It is painful now that she is no more and did not fulfil her dream,” said Lungiswa.
The founder of Masakhane Nkciyo Cultural School, Nophelo Sogaba, described Lathitha as a girl who always had high dreams about her future.
She said Lathitha used to motivate other young girls and loved participating in traditional dances.
“Even when I had something that bothered me, and she visited me at home, she would make sure she left me with a smile. She always brought smiles to others because of her jokes. I have not felt okay ever since this tragedy happened. It is very painful for the other girls in my group because this feels like a dream. It was even more painful when we were closing her file, knowing that she would never be among us again.
“She grew up in Mvimvane locality here in Lusikisiki, and she arrived in our area in 2019. Even then, she was attending virginity testing, so I am the second person who supervised her. I was very proud of her and knew that she had a bright future, not knowing that God had other plans for her,” said Sogaba.
She added that one of the things they will miss most about her is when they hosted camps where she would give her testimony when Bible scripture was read, supporting it with the Book of Timothy, chapter three, verse seven.
