Three horrific road accidents claimed the lives of 109 people in the Eastern Cape and Swaziland this weekend. Three babies were among 35 people who died when a bus rolled on a dirt road in the Eastern Cape around 8am yesterday. Nine people were injured, six of them critically.Eastern Cape police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said the bus was carrying 60 passengers from Willowvale to Dutywa - about an hour from East London - when the accident happened. "The bus belongs to Africa's Best 350 and the cause of the crash will be investigated," he said.He said the driver died, and two people were airlifted to Frere Hospital in East London. Some of the injured were taken to Willowvale Hospital.According to witnesses, it looked like the driver lost control of the bus before it rolled down an embankment and into a river. The accident scene was described as "very horrific".A further nine people died and seven were critically injured in Cradock yesterday morning after a taxi overturned.Meanwhile, late last night, Lucky Lukhele, a spokesman for the Swazi Solidarity Network, confirmed that 65 maidens, scheduled to take part in this weekend's annual Reed Dance, died just after 5pm on Friday.Swazi government spokesman Percy Simelane said King Mswati III conveyed his condolences to families who lost their loved ones in the accident. He pledged government support for funeral arrangements and hospital costs.News of the accident, which broke on social media, prompted outrage after it emerged that the girls were standing on a flatbed truck in a convoy of government-owned vehicles.Swazi police spokesman Khulani Mamba said the accident occurred on the Mbabane-Manzini highway when one truck rear-ended a vehicle that suddenly stopped in the middle of the road at a traffic circle.The trucks, which were travelling behind each other, collided and the girls were flung out. Some were hit by oncoming vehicles. Mamba said he couldn't confirm the number of the maidens who were killed or injured."This is a cultural thing. We are not in a position to release figures until we receive the mandate to do so. I have heard some bizarre figures because people are speculating. But we shall release the figures soon."full_story_image_hleft1He said investigations were continuing and no arrests had been made. Despite calls for the Reed Dance to be called off, he said the main event would go ahead today. According to reports, 90, 000 maidens are set to take part in the ceremony at the Ludzidzini and Ngabezweni royal residences.The country's official newspaper reported that 13 people - including anindvuna [chief] - died in the accident.Swaziland Solidarity Network spokesman Lucky Lukhele said the government and the royal family should postpone the Reed Dance in sympathy with the families who lost their daughters."As expected, they are trying to downplay the accident because these people have no fibre of morality. It was negligence that contributed to these deaths. It is illegal to transport the ibutho [the girls] on these trucks." - Additional reporting by Daily Dispatch..