Pupils in Malamulele, Limpopo have a right to attend school just as residents have a right to protest, the SA Human Rights Commission said on Tuesday.

"Inherent in the right to protest is respect for the rights of other individuals," the commission said in a statement.

"Children have rights to education conferred to them by the same constitution that confers the right to protest to every individual."

The organisation said the forceful removal of children from school is a violation of a right and an offence punishable by law.

At least 100 schools were reportedly affected by the protest by residents in Malamulele who were demanding their own municipality.

Residents wanted to be separated from the Thulamela municipality, based about 50km from the villages on the edge of the Kruger National Park.

Malamulele came to a standstill when protesters forced shops in the local mall to close two days before inland schools were due to open for the new academic year.

"The commission has since last year launched an investigation into the alleged lack of adequate service delivery, some of which, if correct, borders on violation of socio economic rights," the commission said.

It called on authorities concerned, such as the cooperative governance department to do everything possible to end the impasse in Malamulele.