Johannesburg - The circumstances surrounding the death of a baby in Kagiso on the West Rand are being investigated, national police said on Sunday.
"Whether the mother was one of the looters is a matter which is being investigated," said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale.
A baby was killed when it was trampled by a mob of looters on Friday.
Looters, who were robbing a spaza shop, allegedly scattered when police arrived, he said.
The mob ran into a young mother who was carrying the baby.
"In that commotion the baby fell and was trampled by the fleeing mob."
The baby was certified dead on the scene by paramedics.
A case of murder had been opened.
Twenty-four people were arrested in Kagiso on Friday night following violence and looting of foreign owned shops.
Looting of foreign-owned shops in Soweto began on Monday when a Somalian man allegedly shot dead a 14-year-old boy accused of being part of a group trying to break into his store.
Residents sprang into a revenge attack looting shops belonging to foreigners. This spread to other parts of Soweto and by Thursday it had spilled over to Kagiso in the West Rand and Sebokeng in the Vaal.
Three people were killed and 178 arrested.