Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce and Adriaan Basson sue Bell Pottinger for defamation
The three journalists are seeking damages in England for defamation and breach of privacy for Bell Pottinger’s role in the ‘white monopoly capital campaign’
On Monday, three senior South African journalists formally lodged a defamation claim against the now defunct Bell Pottinger over its role in the "white monopoly capital" media campaign. London-based lawyers Leigh Day on behalf of Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce and Adriaan Basson are seeking damages in England for defamation and breach of privacy resulting from Bell Pottinger’s role in the controversial media campaign. The journalists have formally lodged a claim with AIG Europe, the insurer for Bell Pottinger. The white monopoly capital media campaign essentially sought to build animosity towards critics of former Jacob Zuma and his faction, amid growing evidence of state capture by the Guptas. The Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments engaged Bell Pottinger from 2016 to manage the Gupta’s reputation and corporate communications. Haffajee, editor-at-Large for the Huffington Post SA, Bruce, a senior columnist at Business Day and the Financial Mail, and Basson, editor-in-chief at News24 were a...
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