A freak accident in the Eastern Cape has claimed the lives of 15 people.
Provincial Traffic spokesperson Unathi Binqose says the accident happened on the N9 near Middelburg at about 11 pm on Sunday.
He says the driver of a heavy-duty truck lost control after hitting a stray animal and when he tried to regain control, his trailer fell over.
Binqose says a fully loaded taxi, driving in the opposite direction, collided with the trailer at this exact time.
He says all the occupants of the minibus taxi, including the driver died on the scene.
Among the victims were nine females and five men.
Binqose says a two-month-old baby and a toddler were also killed while the truck driver escaped with minor injuries.
The taxi was travelling from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape.
It has since emerged that the victims were travelling back to Cape Town after attending a funeral in Tsolo.
The process of identifying the bodies of the deceased is expected to commence on Monday.
Binqose says the bodies have been transferred to a government mortuary in Komani for the ease of identification by the relatives who will be coming from towns in the former Transkei region.
The victims' names can only be released once their next of kin has been informed.
A case of culpable homicide is under investigation.
