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PR firm Bell Pottinger apologises over S Africa campaign Bell Pottinger row: PR boss sorry for S Africa campaign
(about 9 hours later)
A UK public relations firm has apologised over a controversial social media campaign in South Africa that critics say inflamed racial tensions.A UK public relations firm has apologised over a controversial social media campaign in South Africa that critics say inflamed racial tensions.
The opposition said the campaign by Bell Pottinger was designed to stress the power of white-owned businesses. Bell Pottinger is accused of using a strategy that stressed the power of white-owned businesses and promoted the #WhiteMonopolyCapital hashtag.
The London-based company sacked one employee and suspended another three, admitting the campaign was "offensive". The company has sacked one employee and suspended three, admitting the campaign was "offensive".
Critics say its aim was to divert attention from claims of corruption made against President Jacob Zuma. Critics say it worked to the advantage of President Jacob Zuma.
The South African President has faced allegations over his ties with the wealthy Guptas family. Mr Zuma and the Guptas have consistently denied all the allegations. Bell Pottinger was hired by Oakbay, a company owned by the wealthy Guptas family.
Bell Pottinger was hired by Oakbay, a company owned by the Guptas. The South African president has faced corruption allegations and suspicion over his ties with the Guptas. Mr Zuma and the Guptas have consistently denied all allegations.
The campaign sought to emphasise the continued "existence of economic apartheid", according to leaked emails, published in the local press.
Opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) is among those to have voiced objection, filing a complaint to the London-based Public Relations and Communications Association.
On Friday, the DA said the apology was a PR stunt in itself.
The governing ANC insists it has played no role in the row.
'White monopoly capital''White monopoly capital'
Critics in South Africa and media outlets had for some time accused the PR firm of presenting opponents of President Zuma and the Guptas as agents of a "white monopoly capital" during a sustained campaign. Critics in South Africa and media outlets had for some time accused the PR firm of presenting opponents of President Zuma and the Guptas as agents of "white monopoly capital".
Pressure on Bell Pottinger increased recently after local media had leaked emails allegedly showing its employees working with Guptas' representatives on a campaign focusing on "economic apartheid".
The authenticity of the emails has not been independently verified.
In a statement on Thursday, Bell Pottinger Chief Executive James Henderson said: "We wish to issue a full, unequivocal and absolute apology to anyone impacted."In a statement on Thursday, Bell Pottinger Chief Executive James Henderson said: "We wish to issue a full, unequivocal and absolute apology to anyone impacted."
Bell Pottinger said it had ended its contract with Oakbay three months ago.Bell Pottinger said it had ended its contract with Oakbay three months ago.
The PR firm also said it had asked an independent law firm to review "the account and the work done on it", and that executives had been "misled" about the campaign.The PR firm also said it had asked an independent law firm to review "the account and the work done on it", and that executives had been "misled" about the campaign.
Although that investigation was still continuing, Bell Pottinger said it had "already been shown interim evidence which has dismayed us". Social backlash
'Apology not enough'
Save South Africa, a campaign bringing together civil rights groups critical of President Zuma, said the apology is not enough.
In a statement, it asked the PR firm "who it worked with in South Africa‚ what its brief was‚ and who provided that brief - and‚ most importantly‚ who it was 'misled' by".
There has been an outcry on social media in the country about the original campaign and the statement.There has been an outcry on social media in the country about the original campaign and the statement.
Critics doctored the company's Wikipedia page on Friday, accusing it of a "weak, meaningless and pathetic" apology. Some South Africans are also angry because Bell Pottinger had an account representing the national tourist board, which is funded by tax-payers.
In 2012, Bell Pottinger was accused of unethically editing its clients' Wikipedia pages by the website's founder, Jimmy Wales. The tourist board ended the three-year contract in June, with the PR company blaming the way its other work had been "misrepresented" in the local media.
Bell Pottinger was also recently reported to a professional body for Britain's PR industry. South African Tourism told PR Week that the Gupta connection had no bearing on its decision to switch to another firm.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa's main opposition party, again accused the PR company of unethical behaviour. Last month, Bell Pottinger temporarily changed the settings on its own Twitter account to make it private, meaning critics could no longer hijack its other posts with views on the company's work in South Africa.
South Africa "managed to force a PR company to make their Twitter account private. A PR company", wrote one incredulous tweeter.
On Friday, critics were still on the attack online, doctoring the company's Wikipedia page and accusing it of a "weak, meaningless and pathetic" apology.