Bell Pottinger expelled for SA campaign
The Public Relations and Communications Association’s (PRCA) has decided to terminate Bell Pottinger’s membership from the PR regulatory body with immediate effect.
This, following a complaint by the DA that Bell Pottinger exploited racial tensions in South Africa on behalf of the Gupta family, and Duduzane Zuma, President Jacob Zuma’s son.
The PRCA Board of Management unanimously concluded that Bell Pottinger breached Clauses 1.1 and 4 of the PRCA Professional Charter and Clauses 12 and 13 of the PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Code. This expulsion is the second such instance in over a decade.
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The DA has commended the PRCA for the transparent and professional manner in which they pursued this matter.
"This sanction is the most serious penalty a firm can face and is of significant reputational damage for the embattled spin doctors. The PRCA found that not only did Bell Pottinger fail to maintain and protect its own reputation but also the standing of the profession as a whole" DA MP Phumzile van Damme said.
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Bell Pottinger will still be able to conduct PR work internationally, but it can no longer do so with the privilidge of being a member of Europe’s largest and most influential PR and communications membership body.
The DA wants Bell Pottinger to disclose all information regarding their Oakbay Capital account and reinvest all monies from their Oakbay account back into South Africa.