Pupils protesting outside education department in Johannesburg CBD

A large group of schoolchildren are protesting in the Johannesburg central business district, metro police said on Wednesday.

The group was in Albertina Sisulu and Eloff streets around 2pm, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

The majority of the group were standing in front of the education department building.

Minnaar said there had been reports of the group misbehaving by picking up hawkers' stands and throwing them on the ground.

He advised motorists to avoid the streets and use Marshall Street as an alternative.

There was no permission granted for the protest, Minnaar said.

Metro officials were monitoring the situation.

It was unclear what the protest was about.