Seven people with various injuries ranging from serious to minor have since been hospitalized as a result of the accident.

“Emergency services rescue team and paramedics from CoE, received the call at 12:40 on May 6 and swiftly responded to the scene for intervention,” William Ntladi (District Manager Media Liaison: Emergency Services Disaster & Emergency Management Services) said.

He added that nine, light motor vehicles were found to have been involved in a crash, which was reportedly caused by burning grass from a veld adjacent to the freeway.

“The fire produced heavy, dense smoke which obscured motorists’ vision,” Ntladi said.

Both two lanes on the freeway were closed for traffic until around 17:20 when it was cautiously re-opened. Pre-hospital medical treatment was rendered to patients on the scene before they were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

The scene was handed over to the CoE traffic officers for further investigation.