The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation says urgent steps are needed to examine the police's use of lethal force.

It comes after three-year-old Atlegang Phalane was killed, allegedly by a police officer, near Midrand at the weekend.

Police were chasing a suspected murderer's car when the child was shot.

The centre says shoot to kill comments made by National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and several politicians may be to blame for that and other similar incidents.

The body's Adele Kirsten has called on officials to clarify their comments.

"We cannot look at the shooting [of Atlegang Phalane] as an isolated incident; there is a lack of clarity on the side of police officers on when and how they may use lethal force," says Kirsten.

Meanwhile, investigations are underway into a shooting in which an Erasmia security guard was wounded by police officers.

The guard was responding to a burglary in the area on Monday night.

When police officers arrived on the scene, they shot in the guard's direction.

Xcentric Protection Services' Irene Wood says her employees' life was compromised.

"You need to make 100 percent sure that they are the criminals you are looking for and not security staff. You cannot just randomly shoot and with an R5," says Wood.