Reports say the girls were travelling in an open truck along the Mbabane Manzini highway on Friday night when their vehicle hit a car.
The accident comes just a day before King Mswati the third is expected to choose a new wife.
It's understood police and the local media have been barred from reporting on the incident.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network's Lucky Lukhele says the death toll is expected to rise.
“We can confirm that 38 died and that was confirmed on the spot and some have been admitted to hospital.”
The network says the Swazi government must be held accountable
In a statement on Saturday, the group said: "What saddens our network is the fact that the loss of life was avoidable. To begin with, carrying people in trucks is against traffic laws." Reports say the girls were at the back of an open truck when the collision occurred.
The group further went on to call for the reed dance to be cancelled, and for the royal family to help the respective families bury their children.
The Times of Swaziland reported that the accident involved two trucks carrying the girls, and a Toyota van. Witnesses reportedly said traffic police officers pulled over the Toyota and the first truck smashed into it. The second truck crashed into the back of the first truck.
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