At least 17 school children were killed when the minibus they were travelling in crashed into a truck and exploded into a ball of fire in Mpumalanga province, north of the capital Pretoria, emergency services said on Friday.

"The number now is at least 17 fatalities," Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesman said.

About 20 children were in the minibus when it collided with the truck, he said.

More to follow...

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