Bell Pottinger boss resigns amid South Africa ‘race hate’ campaign claims

By Nehanda Radio On Sep 4, 2017 6,747

By Phillip Inman | Guardian |

The chief executive of Bell Pottinger has resigned just days before a ruling over accusations that the public relations firm stoked racial tensions in South Africa through its work with the billionaire Gupta family, which condemned opponents of President Jacob Zuma as agents of “white monopoly capital”.

James Henderson issued an apology in July about his firm’s PR campaign on behalf of the Gupta family. Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Shutterstock

James Henderson, who confirmed he had left the role over the weekend, was under pressure to quit after the firm was given a “disciplinary sanction” by the UK’s public relations trade body earlier this year.

The action was taken after a Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) inquiry heard allegations that Bell Pottinger sought to stir up anger about “economic apartheid” in South Africa to draw attention away from the controversial Gupta family, who have been accused of benefiting financially from their close links to Zuma, although they have denied this.

Henderson issued an “unequivocal” apology in July, but last week the firm appealed against the initial ruling ahead of a final decision expected this week.

Henderson previously told the Guardian that Bell Pottinger’s board was “considering all options” for the future of the business in the wake of the scandal. Those options were understood to include the sale of Henderson’s significant stake in the company, with such a move likely to trigger his exit from the firm.

The case follows a complaint to the PRCA by South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, about the campaign run for the Guptas.

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Members of South Africa's Democratic Alliance, including communications spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme, outside Bell Pottinger's London offices last month — Members of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, including communications spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme, outside Bell Pottinger’s London offices last month

Bell Pottinger, founded by Margaret Thatcher’s spin doctor Lord Bell, is accused of orchestrating the creation of fake Twitter accounts to target prominent white businesspeople in South Africa to draw attention away from the Gupta family.

The Guptas’ Oakbay company was paying Bell Pottinger £100,000 a month for its lobby and PR advice. Bell Pottinger cancelled the contract in April.

Henderson described the social media campaign as “inappropriate and offensive”.

“Much of what has been alleged about our work is, we believe, not true – but enough of it is to be of deep concern,” he said. “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.”

Lord Bell told the BBC in an interview that he quit the firm last year in part over concerns that the Gupta contract was “toxic”.

Last week the PRCA confirmed that an appeal had been submitted and said its board of management would issue its final decision on 5 September.

If found to have violated the association’s professional charter, the maximum penalty Bell Pottinger could face would be termination of its PRCA membership.

The PRCA’s code states members should “take all reasonable care that professional duties are conducted without causing offence on the grounds of gender, race, religion, disability or any other form of discrimination”.