DA won’t let Bell Pottinger off hook

THE DA hopes an investigation into UK public relations firm Bell Pottinger will provide them with enough ammunition to seek legal action against individuals in South Africa.

The DA filed a complaint against the company with the British Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) earlier this week.

Yesterday, Francis Ingham, director-general at the PRCA, said: “We can confirm that the complaint filed by Democratic Alliance against Bell Pottinger will be considered by a Professional Practices Committee. Both sides have been notified and informed of the timeline.”

She said the formal process would soon begin as set out in the PRCA Professional Charter and Code of Conduct which would be used to investigate the complaint.

“Based on the outcome of the investigation and what it says we could take action domestically. We could get full disclosure of what the Guptas were up to,” said DA national spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme.

“It is important for us to do this and set an example,” she said.

On Thursday, Bell Pottinger issued a press release apology over claims in which “it was said that we had supported or aided campaigns to stir up racial division in South Africa”, according to chief executive James Henderson.

The company said it terminated its work with Gupta-owned Oakbay Capital and dismissed a lead partner, and suspended another partner and two employees.

“Duduzane Zuma, in his capacity as a Gupta employee, procured the services of Bell Pottinger in what seems to have been an attempt to divide and conquer the South African public, by exploiting racial tensions in a bid to keep Jacob Zuma and the ANC in power. Bell Pottinger is a member of the PRCA and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). Both have a clear code of conduct that PR firms must adhere to,” said Van Damme.

Bell Pottinger allegedly used social media platforms in a campaign to stir racial divisions.

South Africans could have another avenue to hold the company accountable for their actions: lodge a complaint against it with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) if they felt any of their rights, as contained in the Bill of Rights, had been violated.

Gushwell Brooks of the HRC said: “Our focus is the Bill of Rights and for someone to bring a complaint to us, it would have to be linked to one of the rights as contained in the Bill of Rights. We will then investigate a matter.”

He added that as of yesterday no-one, nor any organisation, had come forward with a complaint.