Nine people were killed and four others seriously injured when a minibus overturned on the N1 between Richmond and Three Sisters on Wednesday, Northern Cape police said.
Captain Tony Modise said the driver lost control at about 3pm after a tyre burst. The vehicle swerved off the road before overturning.
Eight passengers died on the scene and another died later in Victoria hospital in Richmond. Four other seriously injured passengers were also taken to the Richmond hospital.
Among the dead, seven were schoolgirls between the ages of 13 and 15, while the other two were adults.
The four injured passengers, also schoolgirls, were in a serious condition, Modise said.
”It appeared they were on their way to some sporting activity in George,” Modise said.
No other car was involved in the accident. Modise said it is not clear at this stage who the driver was.
Police are trying to trace the family of the victims, and a case of culpable homicide has been opened. — Sapa