Thousands of young women descend on the royal residence from all over the nation every year, but in a country where relatively few families own vehicles and where infrastructure is poor, many are squeezed onto open trucks.
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A Swazi journalist told AP that photographers were prevented from taking pictures at the scene.
President Jacob Zuma has sent his condolences to Swaziland following the deaths of up to a reported 65 Swazi maidens in an accident while travelling to the annual Reed Dance.
King Mswati III has sometimes chosen a new wife at the ceremony, which involves bare-breasted young Swazi women singing and dancing in beaded mini-skirts.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network said about 20 others were hurt when the truck in which they were travelling collided with another vehicle on Friday.
Tragedy: The 38 girls were said to be en-route to the annual reed dance, a traditional ceremony where about 40,000 virgins perform in front of the royal family.
A rights group, the Swaziland Solidarity Network, claims that the death toll has risen to 65.
“The South African Government sends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Swaziland following the tragic loss of young lives and shares in the mourning of the families‚ as well as the relatives of the deceased”. King Mswati III, 47, Africa’s last absolute monarch, has between 13 and 15 wives, according to different reports.
“We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van”, said Siphelele Sigudla, 18, a survivor quoted by the newspaper.
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Earlier, a high-ranking police officer contacted by The Associated Press refused to comment on the accident, saying the matter was related to the “highest authority”, and no details could be disclosed to the media.
