Five people died and four others were critically injured when a bus and a taxi collided on the N2 highway in Kokstad on Saturday, says KwaZulu Natal paramedics.
Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha said the taxi was making a U-turn on the road when the bus came crashing into it.
The two vehicles swerved out of control, rolled down a 10 metre embankment and landed in a river.
Botha said five people died at the scene and four people were critically injured.
Another 32 people were treated for minor injuries and taken to hospital, he said.