The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) says it is investigating a case of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving following an incident in which a police vehicle rammed into three children at the weekend, killing one of them.

IPID Western Cape spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says three police officers were en route to a murder scene when the incident happened.

He says the driver of the police vehicle swerved out of the way for a taxi that allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road and crashed into a wendy house where the children were playing.

Shuping says an 11-year-old child died on the scene, and the other two were taken to hospital for treatment. Shuping says the community attacked the officers and set their vehicle alight.