The president has urged the police to get tough
South Africa's police watchdog has condemned the "shooting of innocent people" after a boy of three was allegedly killed by a police officer.
The officer reportedly mistook a pipe the boy was carrying for a gun. He was in a car the police thought was being driven by suspected criminals.
The family of Atlegang Aphane says the policeman showed "no remorse" about the killing, reports the Sowetan newspaper.
The policeman has been charged with murder and remains in custody.
President Jacob Zuma recently said police should get tough to deal with the country's high levels of crime, however he said they should not be "trigger-happy".
Moses Dlamini from the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) told the BBC that no pipe or firearm had been recovered from the car in Midrand, near Johannesburg.
Atlegang's mother Mapule Aphane has accused the police constable of not being remorseful about the shooting.
"I could not believe my eyes when I arrived at the scene.
"He was busy eating a lollipop. I approached him and asked why he killed my son, but he looked at me as if I was crazy," said Ms Aphane, reports the Sowetan newspaper.
A police officer in South Africa has allegedly shot dead a three year old boy after he reportedly thought the child was holding a gun. According to reports, Atlegang Aphane, aged three, was travelling in a car being driven by suspected criminals when he was shot by the policeman, who reportedly thought that a pipe the child was carrying was a firearm.

Spokesman Moses Dlamini from the Independent Complaints Directorate said to the BBC that no pipe or firearm had been found in the car. The family of the victim also released a statement saying the police officer showed “no remorse” for the shooting. The officer in question remains in custody after being charged with murder. 

The South African Police Commission has condemned the shooting. South African President Jacob Zuma had previously said he wants the police to “get tough” with criminals, but not to be “trigger-happy”.