A 10-year-old girl was killed in Soweto when she was struck by lightning on Friday, Johannesburg police said.

The girl was walking with her mother in Bram Fischer, Dobsonville, around 6pm when she was struck, Inspector Kay Makhubela said.

"Paramedics were called out and tried to help her, but she died before arriving at hospital."

Her mother was not injured. Police have opened an inquest docket.