Twenty-six British tourists died when their bus overturned near Lydenburg in Mpumalanga at 12.20pm on Monday, police said.
The remaining 12 passengers, also British tourists, were rushed to Lydenburg hospital, police spokesperson Inspector Gerrit Smith said.
The driver was not injured.
Smith said the Springbok Atlas bus's brakes failed and it skidded off the road.
The top of the bus broke off when it overturned. - Sapa