Crash In Swaziland 'Kills 38 Girls And Women'

A crash has killed 38 girls and young women who were travelling to a festival in Swaziland, according to a rights group.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network said about 20 others were hurt when the truck in which they were travelling collided with another vehicle on Friday.

It is reported the women were on their way to the Swazi king's royal residence for the annual traditional reed dance.

There were reports that police in the small mountainous country were discouraging reporting on the accident and photographers were being stopped from taking photos.

One of survivors was Siphelele Sigudla, 18, who told the Times of Swaziland: "We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van."

The festival sees thousands of women and girls travelling from chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini royal village every year to participate in the eight-day event, which includes the Umhlanga Reed Dance.

This is a dance which has previously involved bare-breasted young women dancing and singing to catch the eye of King Mswati III, who may choose one as his wife, according to the SSN.

The landlocked kingdom of Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy and is located between South Africa and Mozambique.