The school principal of Cradock Primary School was among the 18 killed when a bus and minibus collided on the R61 between Cradock and Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, Arrive Alive said.
At least two school children were also killed in the incident.
“The principle was actually driving the minibus when the crash occurred,” said Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea.
Fourteen people were seriously injured in the crash. They have all been transported to hospitals in the area.
The minibus was carrying schoolchildren to an event in Graaf-Reinet when it collided with a bus carrying passengers from Cape Town to Mthatha.
“The accident was a head-on collision,” said Machaea.
Its still unclear what led to the crash.
Transport department spokesman Ncebo Kumbaca said the deputy minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Eastern Cape transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu were expected to visit the injured soon. - Sapa