DA’s Bell Pottinger Complaint Upheld!

South Africa’s opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), says it has received confirmation that their complaint against Bell Pottinger has been upheld, and that the ruling will most likely be on 4 September.

This means that the UK’s trade PR trade body – PRCA (Public Relations & Communications Association) – agrees that “Bell Pottinger did indeed violate its Professional Charter, and/or its Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct”, with a campaign – on behalf of the wealthy Gupta family – which stirred up racial tension in South Africa.

DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Phumzile Van Damme, said Thursday afternoon that Bell Pottinger will now be given five days to appeal the PRCA’s decision if it so chooses.

“If Bell Pottinger appeals, the PRCA’s Board of Management will consider the appeal and either approve, amend, or overrule the decision by the Professional Practices Committee and then publish the final decision during the week beginning 4 September 2017.”

She said the DA looks forward to the PRCA’s full decision regarding disciplinary action against Bell Pottinger and trusts that “a strong sanction” will be given.

According to the Guardian, sanction could include having its membership terminated (which has only ever happened to one PR company), or receiving a formal warning or reprimand.

Van Damme said: “During its work for Oakbay Capital, the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane Zuma, Bell Pottinger exploited the already sensitive race relations in South Africa, and a strong message must be sent to the PRCA that unethical conduct by its members will not be tolerated.”

The DA reiterated its call for Bell Pottinger to “do the right thing and disclose all Gupta contracts and monies from their accounts with the Guptas and reinvest it into South Africa”.