Two men were killed and several other passengers were seriously injured when a taxi overturned on the R23 between Heidelberg and Balfour in Mpumalanga on Saturday, police said.

Spokesperson Abie Khoabane said the driver of the taxi believed to have been travelling from Gauteng to Nquthu in KwaZulu Natal, lost control after the left tire burst.

"The taxi overturned and two male passengers in their 30s died. The injured passengers were taken to the Heidelberg provincial hospital for medical treatment," said Khoabane.

Families of the deceased can contact detective Paulos Mashinini on 0871800574 for identification purposes, he said.