Five people were killed and two others critically injured when a truck and three cars collided on the N5 outside of Bethlehem, Freestate.
ER24 paramedics responded to the scene after receiving the emergency call.
When they arrived, they found two men laying next to the large truck which lay on its side. One of the men lay lifeless while the other was critically injured.
When paramedics inspected the other vehicles, they discovered that two men and two woman had sustained fatal injuries. Another man lay trapped in the same vehicle with critical injuries.
Jaws-of-life were used to free the trapped occupants from the vehicle.
Advanced life support was performed on both critical patients before they were transported to Pelonomi provincial hospital for urgent medical treatment.
The five bodies were later removed by provincial services.
The cause of the collision is not yet known and local authorities were on scene for further investigations.