Officials said the incident in which a student constable was shot at the Sea Point Police Station on Sunday morning may have been an accident.
The Independent Complaints directorate is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the learner constable.
The police’s Frederick van Wyk said he was shot by another officer while they were showing each how to clip their firearms onto their clothes.
He is now in a serious condition at a local hospital.
A 29-year-old police constable is being questioned after allegedly shooting the student constable. The incident occurred inside the station. It is understood they were teaching each other about their new firearms when the gun went off.
The 24-year-old was shot in his upper body and is currently in a serious condition. Fellow officers who witnessed the incident are being de-briefed.
(Edited by Deshnee Subramany)