At least 12 people were killed in a crash near Empangeni on Sunday, the KwaZulu-Natal transport department said.

Spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said three others were critically injured and taken to a local hospital.

She said the incident took place on the N2 freeway near Empangeni at around 3pm.

Mbatha said two bakkies had collided but it was unclear who was at fault. The N2 south-bound carriageway has been closed and experts are busy collecting evidence from the scene.

Two counts of culpable homicide are investigated.