Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Public Relations adviser, Bell Pottinger, has been blacklisted by Public Relations and Communications Association in South Africa.
Powerbase listed the firm as working for Jonathan in 2014 in preparation for the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria.
Africa confidential had at the period stated that “Joe Trippi, who worked on the campaigns of such luminaries as Walter Mondale, Edward Kennedy and Howard Dean, is advising Jonathan. Alongside him is Bell Pottinger, the firm that helped Margaret Thatcher win three elections.”
Reports in South African media, however, noted that the British public relations firm was removed as a member of the PRCA after it was accused of exploiting racial divisions in South Africa on behalf of the Gupta family.
A statement by PRCA on Tuesday said the role played by the PR firm in the construction of the Gupta family’s propaganda empire‚ consisted of multi-national fake news scheme to hide the family’s growing enrichment at the expense of South African citizens and taxpayers.
The Association announced that it has imposed its most serious sanctions on Bell Pottinger‚ following the industry regulator’s investigation into Bell Pottinger’s work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa.
The investigation followed a complaint from the Democratic Alliance.
Bell Pottinger’s membership has been terminated with immediate effect.
Bell Pottinger will not be eligible to reapply for corporate membership of the PRCA for a minimum period of five years.
Francis Ingham‚ Director General of PRCA‚ said: “Bell Pottinger has brought the PR and communications industry into disrepute with its actions‚ and it has received the harshest possible sanctions.
“The PRCA has never before passed down such a damning indictment of an agency’s behaviour.
“This outcome reflects the huge importance that the PRCA places on the protection of ethical standards in the business of PR and communications.”
Bell Pottinger has been found to have breached the PRCA Professional Charter and Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct.
The firm was accused of breaching professional charter clause 1.1;
PRCA Professional Charter clause 4; PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct clause 12; PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct clause 13.
