Johannesburg – The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said on Thursday they received a notification of a death as a result of police action from South African Police Service (SAPS) in Bela Bela.
It is alleged that on Tuesday, there was a protest by community members from Bela Bela and public order police officers from Thohoyandou, Giyani and Modimolle were called to disperse protesters with rubber bullets.
Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini said the deceased, 11-year-old Karabo Khumalo was with his mother when he was shot in the head with a rubber bullet.
"He was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to Polokwane Hospital where he passed away on Wednesday," said Dlamini.
Dlamini said the discharge of an official firearm on was not reported to the Ipid and failure to report the incident was being investigated.
"The death was only reported on Thursday. No arrest has been made and investigations are continuing," said Dlamini.