The man and a group of other men were hiding under a tree during a severe thunderstorm.

A man was killed when lightning struck him under a tree in Nigel on Thursday, Ekurhuleni emergency services said.

Spokesman William Ntladi said the man and a group of other men were hiding under a tree during a severe thunderstorm in Marievale.

A medical rescue team found the man unconscious under the tree.

"Attempts were made to resuscitate him but unfortunately he was certified dead on scene."

The other men were not hurt.

"A house was also struck by lightning and caught fire in Brentwood Park Benoni. On arrival the fire was extinguished resulting in minimum damage to the structure," said Ntladi.

In separate incident, a man was taken to hospital after he was hit by hail stones while walking along the Great North road in Benoni.

He was transported to Lin-Med Hospital by ambulance, He was in a stable condition.

Ntladi said several areas around Ekurhuleni experienced severe thunderstorms and flooding. The affected areas were mainly in Boksburg and Benoni.