Media rights groups on Tuesday condemned an incident in which President Jacob Zuma's police bodyguards manhandled an Eyewitness News journalist and forced him to delete pictures from his camera.

Tshepo Lesole took pictures as the president's entourage arrived at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on Tuesday. Zuma was visiting the hospital to inspect the facility.

'Stories of torture came to mind'

As the burly VIP Protection Unit officer struggled with Lesole another Eyewitness News journalist rushed to intervene but they refused to talk to him.

Lesole said he was scared because of what happened to a Cape Town man who recently waved at VIP guards watching the president.

"Stories that he has been held and stories that he has been tortured that is what came to mind," said Lesole when asked about what he was thinking during the ordeal.

Investigations urged

The Presidency said it was now going to investigate.

Senior superintendent Lindela Mashego, who sits on a committee which aims to smooth relations between journalists and the police, urged Lesole to lay charges against the unit's members.

"We would want to resolve the matter and those responsible can be brought to book," said Mashego.

Listen to Tshepo Lesole talk about his experience:

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