Anglo Platinum’s corporate communications group manager, Mike Mtakati; his wife, Nonhlanhla; and his four children were killed in a road accident early on Monday morning.
Their nieces, travelling with them, also died in the accident, according to a statement by Anglo Platinum on Tuesday.
The accident happened on the N3 between Warden and Harrismith, about 18km from Warden.
According to Eastern Free State police, an articulated lorry with three occupants travelling in the fast lane tried to avoid an oncoming vehicle trying to overtake across a median.
The lorry swerving into the slow lane, jack-knifed and collided with another oncoming 4×4 vehicle.
The vehicle carrying nine occupants exploded into flames, as did the mechanical horse, police said.
The three occupants of the lorry were slightly injured and taken to the nearby Thebe hospital.
Mtakati, a former journalist, joined Anglo Platinum in February 1998. — Sapa