Seven passengers died and nine were injured when a taxi lost control on the M1 south near the Empire turnoff in Johannesburg on Sunday, ER24 said.

Spokesperson Riana Beech said four bodies were found scattered over the freeway at around 7.30pm but there was no vehicle in sight accept for the taxi door.

"The taxi was found a kilometre from the scene with three more bodies around it."

The taxi was returning from a church service in Tembisa on the East Rand towards Johannesburg.

Beech said one passenger was seriously injured during the accident and another eight sustained slight injuries.

All nine patients were taken to various hospitals.

Skid marks show on the road show that the vehicle veered across the road and side swiped the centre concrete wall on the centre of the freeway, Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

He said the cause of the accident was not yet known but would be investigated.

The M1 direction south had since been opened.