Thirty nine people were injured, 15 of them seriously, when two minibus taxis and four cars collided on Edendale road, near Pietermaritzburg, on Wednesday, paramedics said.
The incident happened around 7.30am near a factory in Edendale, said ER24 spokesman Derrick Banks.
He said six children were injured in the crash, but were treated for bruises and cuts.
The 15 people seriously hurt had neck and back injuries.
The injured were taken to various hospitals in Pietermaritzburg by an emergency medical bus, said Banks.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
He said that while paramedics were responding to the accident there was another crash involving a minibus taxi and two bakkies further up Edendale road.
No injuries were reported, said Banks.