South Africans rejoice at the news that PR firm Bell Pottinger have been stripped of their PRCA membership, this is the harshest possible sanction by PRCA.
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) have made their ruling in the compliant brought against the PR firm Bell Pottinger by the Democratic Alliance. The PR firm is guilty of bringing the “industry into disrepute with its actions”.
The PRCA have therefore stripped Bell Pottinger of its membership to the industry body and it will not be eligible to reapply for corporate membership of the PRCA for a minimum period of five years. According to the PRCA director general Francis Ingham, these are the harshest possible sanctions to be implemented against the firm.
DA spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme praised the PRCA for its dedication to the matter. She thanked them for their professionalism.
“This sanction is the most serious penalty a firm can face and is of significant reputational damage for the embattled spin doctors,”
“The PRCA found that not only did Bell Pottinger fail ‘to maintain and protect its own reputation’, but also ‘the standing of the profession as a whole’.
“What this means, is that while Bell Pottinger will still be able to conduct PR work internationally, it can no longer do so with the honour of being a member of Europe’s largest and most influential PR and communications membership body. This will cause a major knock in their credibility, and no doubt, their bottom line.
“The DA thanks the people of South Africa for making it loud and clear that unethical conduct by private companies in aid of corrupt individuals will not be tolerated.” – Phumzile Van Damme
The CEO of the firm, James Henderson, resigned shortly before the announcement was made by the PRCA. This news is a win for South Africa! Now we wait and see what the future holds for Bell Pottinger.
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