DA wants to ring Pottinger’s bell

THE DA hopes an official probe by British oversight authorities into public-relations firm Bell Pottinger will provide enough ammunition for the party to take legal action against individuals in South Africa.

The DA has lodged a complaint with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) about Bell Pottinger allegedly using social media platforms in a campaign to stir racial divisions in the interests of its client Oakbay Capital, owned by the controversial Gupta family.

“Based on the outcome of the PRCA 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. The investigation should be done by next week.

“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.

On Thursday Bell Pottinger issued a press release apologising for being embroiled in the claims, saying it had terminated work with Oakbay, dismissed a lead partner, and suspended another partner and two employees.

Yesterday, Francis Ingham, PRCA, director-general, confirmed the DA complaint would be considered. Another possible avenue would be to lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission.

The commission’s Gushwell Brooks 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.”