Former President Goodluck Jonathan\u2019s Public Relations adviser, Bell Pottinger, has been blacklisted by Public Relations and Communications Association in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Powerbase listed the firm as working for Jonathan in 2014 in preparation for the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Africa confidential had at the period stated that \u201cJoe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A statement by PRCA on Tuesday said the role played by the PR firm in the construction of the Gupta family\u2019s propaganda empire\u201a consisted of multi-national fake news scheme to hide the family\u2019s growing enrichment at the expense of South African citizens and taxpayers.<\/p>\n
The Association announced that it has imposed its most serious sanctions on Bell Pottinger\u201a following the industry regulator\u2019s investigation into Bell Pottinger\u2019s work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The investigation followed a complaint from the Democratic Alliance.<\/p>\n
Bell Pottinger\u2019s membership has been terminated with immediate effect.<\/p>\n
Bell Pottinger will not be eligible to reapply for corporate membership of the PRCA for a minimum period of five years.<\/p>\n
Francis Ingham\u201a Director General of PRCA\u201a said: \u201cBell Pottinger has brought the PR and communications industry into disrepute with its actions\u201a and it has received the harshest possible sanctions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PRCA has never before passed down such a damning indictment of an agency\u2019s behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis outcome reflects the huge importance that the PRCA places on the protection of ethical standards in the business of PR and communications.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bell Pottinger has been found to have breached the PRCA Professional Charter and Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct.<\/p>\n
The firm was accused of breaching professional charter clause 1.1;
\nPRCA Professional Charter clause 4; PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct clause 12; PRCA Public Affairs and Lobbying Code of Conduct clause 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former President Goodluck Jonathan\u2019s 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 \u201cJoe Trippi, who worked on the campaigns […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":70276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,2],"tags":[39139,8049,39140,301],"yoast_head":"\n