At least 14 people, nine of them schoolchildren, have been killed in a five-vehicle accident on the N2 highway near East London, Eastern Cape police said on Thursday.
Captain Stephen Marais said a group of schoolchildren returning to Elliotdale in two minibus taxis were involved in the accident shortly after 7pm.
”Bodies are scattered all over the road,” he said.
Eastern Cape traffic department spokesperson Tshepo Machaea said one of the minibus taxis collided head-on with a truck.
”We’re not sure who left their side of the road first.”
The other minibus, which had been travelling behind the first, and three more cars were then involved in the accident.
Machaea said the death toll was difficult to establish as some of the victims had been torn apart and might have been counted twice.
Some of the victims had been decapitated.
Marais said the N2 in both directions 30km out of East London would be closed until at least 3am. – Sapa