Mediamec Six women died in a head-on collision between a Toyota Quantum and a truck on the R61 near Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape on Saturday.
The provincial Transport Department said the crash occurred roughly 30km outside the town. The Quantum was transporting 16 passengers from Beaufort West in the Western Cape towards the Eastern Cape.
The six women died at the scene. Those who sustained critical injuries were taken to Graaff-Reinet Provincial Hospital for treatment.
According to the department, the injured included an occupant of a Kia Rio caught up in a second collision after the initial crash. Drivers and occupants of the other vehicles involved in the secondary collision were reportedly unhurt.
Authorities are investigating the cause, with fatigue being considered as a possible contributing factor. The department stressed that the cause had not yet been established.
Police at Aberdeen have opened a culpable homicide case.
