At least 13 people were killed and nine others sustained serious injuries when two vehicles collided on N2 national route, said South African medical emergency service provider ER 24 on Monday.
ER24 paramedics spokesperson Russel Meiring told Xinhua that the accident happened between Fochville and Westonaria in Gauteng on Sunday night.
When their paramedics arrived at the scene both the bakkie and a light car had been badly damaged during the collision.
Paramedics found bodies scattered around the scene as well as trapped inside the two vehicles, he said.
Meiring said the deceased were declared dead at the scene including children.
Paramedics found that five people from the light motor vehicle and eight people from the bakkie had sustained injuries and showed no sign of life. There was nothing that could be done for them, he said.
Meiring added that three critically injured people including one young child were airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Others were transported by an ambulance to the hospital. The cause of the accident is being investigated.
