Two boys, aged 6 and 10, died after being struck by lightning in the Jozanashoek area of the Drakensberg near Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape police said on Monday.

Captain Ursula Roelofse said the two left their home to fetch sheep and cattle from the mountain around 6pm on Sunday.

On the way back to their house a thunderstorm erupted over them.

Shepherd Songezo Mdidimba found the two boys lying unconscious under an aloe plant.

He carried the boys to his house but they died on the way.

A post mortem would be conducted on the bodies during the week, Roelofse said.

Sapa