SIXTEEN people, including young soccer players, were killed in separate accidents in Mpumalanga yesterday.

In the first accident, 11 mineworkers were killed when two bakkies collided head-on between Lydenburg and Roosenekal yesterday morning.

Community safety department spokesperson Joseph Mabuza said: "It's not clear what exactly happened because all occupants of both vehicles were killed."

He said police have launched an investigation and "hopefully the cause of the accident will soon be established".

All the deceased were employees at Everest Mine near Lydenburg.

In another accident, five young soccer players in Balfour were killed when the car in which they were travelling was involved in an accident.

The boys were identified as Douglas Mngomezulu, Lucky Motloung, Thabiso Letsima, Bongane Mgadzi and Mondli Makhaza.

A Safa spokesperson said the boys, who played for Karen Beef FC, were returning from a league match when their vehicle was involved in an accident.