by MarkLives (@marklives) PR firm, Bell Pottinger, has apologised for its role in South Africa’s state capture project through work done for the Gupta-owned “Oakbay Capital” (Oakbay Investments, actually). The statement was issued on its Twitter account on Thursday afternoon, 6 July 2017.
https://twitter.com/BellPottinger/status/882978273243930624
Confirms
In its statement, Bell Pottinger confirms that;
- An investigation by law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, is ongoing and that its findings will be released to the public,
- Interim evidence “has dismayed us”,
- That “throughout the tenure of the Oakbay account, senior management have been misled about what has been done”,
- It fired the lead partner involved (said to be Victoria Geoghegan) and suspended another partner and two employees,
- Its own employees are angered by what has happened,
- “We wish to issue a full, unequivocal and absolute apology to anyone impacted. These activities should never have been undertaken. We are deeply sorry that this happened.”
The apology follows sustained pressure applied by South Africans forBell Pottinger clients to distance themselves from the organisation. In recent months, Investec, Richemont and South African Tourism all cut ties with the PR firm.
- Read: EDITORIAL: A quick resource for PRCA’s Bell Pottinger investigation
- Read: The Art of Spin 2.0: Bell Pottinger apology – playing the victim – not accepted
- Read: Analysis: Bell Pottinger – more than just spin, it’s political interference in sovereign states
Full statement
Three months ago, Bell Pottinger announced that it had decided to cease work for Oakbay Capital. We had worked for them for a year, following a competitive bid process. When we terminated our work with Oakbay, we said we were doing so because of increasingly strong social media attacks on our staff and our business from South Africa, and that we regarded the criticisms of what our team had done as unfair.
These attacks on, and criticisms of, our staff continued and were clearly the result of strong and sincere anger. Most seriously, it was said that we had supported or aided campaigns to stir up racial division in South Africa. Therefore, we called in the leading independent international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, to review the account and the work done on it. That investigation is still continuing and will be completed in the next few weeks. We intend to publish the findings of that report and take appropriate action.
However, we have already been shown interim evidence which has dismayed us. Much of what has been alleged about our work is, we believe, not true – but enough of it is to be of deep concern. There has been a social media campaign that highlights the issue of economic emancipation in a way that we, having now seen it, consider to be inappropriate and offensive. At various points throughout the tenure of the Oakbay account, senior management have been misled about what has been done.
For it to be done in South Africa, a country which has become an international beacon of hope for its progress towards racial reconciliation, is a matter of profound regret and in no way reflects the values of Bell Pottinger.
Though the inquiry is ongoing, we have dismissed the lead partner involved and suspended another partner and two employees so that we can determine their precise role in what took place. As soon as we were made aware that we had been misled and that work was being done which goes against the very core of our ethical policies, we acted immediately.
At Bell Pottinger – a proudly diverse and international team – we have good, decent people who will be as angered by what has been discovered as we are.
We wish to issue a full, unequivocal and absolute apology to anyone impacted. These activities should never have been undertaken. We are deeply sorry that this happened.
James Henderson
Chief Executive
/ends
South Africans react
I presume you will pay any money you received through this contract to an organisation that promotes reconciliation.
— Stephen Grootes (@StephenGrootes) July 6, 2017
#BellPottinger 'apology' won't undo the damage done & the demonising of so many good South Africans. Tell all & pay back
— Max du Preez (@MaxduPreez) July 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/nombonisogasa/status/882996241248002049
"These activities should never have been undertaken #BellPottinger https://t.co/PdP3LzTFQI
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) July 6, 2017
DA welcomes Bell Pottinger apology but complaints still stand https://t.co/bzzlMQ1JFT
— Quin (@Imthedrugexpert) July 7, 2017
#Savesa demands full disclosure from PR firm #Bellpottinger about the nature of its dirty tricks while contracted to the Guptas pic.twitter.com/220kRzkNus
— Save South Africa (@_SaveSA) July 6, 2017
Bell Pottinger conceding unethical behaviour in South Africa re: Gupta propaganda (but throws staff under the bus). Wow. Check 👇 pic.twitter.com/bvweUdbAAJ
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) July 6, 2017
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