Six boys struck by lightning back at school

Six Johannesburg schoolboys struck by lightning earlier this week returned to school on Thursday, the Gauteng education department said.

"The one boy at Milpark [hospital] is likely to be discharged today. The other two are still critical," spokesman Charles Phahlane said.

On Tuesday, lightning struck nine boys, aged between 16 and 18, at King Edward VII School (KES) while they were pulling the covers over the cricket pitch.

Four Protea Glen girls, all aged 16, were struck by lightning while on their way home from school on Monday. Two of them were treated and discharged.

One of the girls was still in a critical condition at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, and the other at the Tshepo Themba private hospital.

"[Education] MEC [Barbara] Creecy went to both Milpark and Chris Hani to see the condition of the learners and to understand the additional support that parents and schools may need. She thanked the two hospitals for their efforts to care for the learners," said Phahlane.