This is the shocking moment a gang of armed robbers knock a child over with their car during an ambush of a wealthy family in Johannesburg.

The three-year-old boy was walking with his mother who had a baby strapped to her back when he was struck by the moving vehicle.

In the clip, a Mercedes mini-bus activates the gates of a property, however the gang are in hot pursuit of the van and sneak into the home.

A white mini-van activates the gates of a property which is in Johannesburg, South Africa

During the desperate bid to get inside the gated property, the car carrying at least three gunmen, clipped the toddler with a blow that sent him crashing to the ground.

The front left wheel arch can clearly be seen to catch him in the back and knock him over just as his mother turns and sees the danger and she reaches down to pick him up.

Rather than an apologetic passenger exiting the car, a group of masked gunmen jump out and approach the gate.

However the gang are in hot pursuit of the van which can be seen behind the mother and son

Realising what is going on the mother of the young boy pulls him away from the car and the armed men.

The men seem unfazed by the presence of the mother and son however they do look slightly concerned when the mini-bus reverses into a wall, which begins to cave.

The clip shows the men race towards the passenger door of the mini-bus and approach the passengers inside.

The three-year-old boy was walking with his mother who had a baby strapped to her back when he was struck by the moving vehicle

Rather than an apologetic passenger exiting the car, a group of masked gunmen jump out and approach the gate

Moments later they flee the scene by jumping into their car without a glance up the street to check on the little boy.

The video was taken from CCTV in the Blairgowrie area of Johannesburg in South Africa and it is believed the robbers followed it home from an upmarket nearby shopping mall.

A South African Police Spokesman confirmed an incident of armed robbery was being investigated but had no details on if anyone was hurt or what was taken or if the getaway car was stolen.