Seven Nelspruit high school pupils were killed when their car overturned and caught fire near the town on Sunday, Mpumalanga police reported.
Captain Benjamin Bhembe said the driver of the Sedan Mercedes Benz was apparently speeding when he lost control of the vehicle at around 2am.
The vehicle hit a tree and overturned before hitting some rocks and catching fire on the N4 adjacent to KaNyamazane, just outside Nelspruit. Six passengers between the ages of 18 and 25 burnt to death and died at the scene.
The seventh passenger sustained slight injuries to his arms, but hit his head against the rocks and later died in hospital.
The passengers were returning home from a 21st birthday party of one of the victims, which they had been celebrating at Malelane.
Bhembe said DNA and dental tests would probably be conducted on the bodies to identify them because the six victims had been burnt beyond recognition. – Sapa