{"id":4846,"date":"2017-06-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amabhungane.org\/amabhungane\/stories\/pr-firm-came-out-from-the-uk-in-2016-on-a-four-day-boot-camp-to-assist-gupta-family-businesses-the-ancyl-and-the-mkva-to-perfect-their-narrative\/"},"modified":"2024-09-22T21:02:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-22T21:02:44","slug":"guptaleaks-bell-pottinger-ancyl-and-mk-veterans-the-early-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/guptaleaks-bell-pottinger-ancyl-and-mk-veterans-the-early-days\/","title":{"rendered":"#GuptaLeaks: Bell Pottinger, ANCYL and MK veterans \u2013 the early days"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A month after UK-based PR firm Bell Pottinger\u2019s Financial and Corporate partner Victoria Geoghegan billed a Dubai-based company, part-owned by Gupta family lieutenant, Salim Essa, \u00a3100,000 for a consultation with President Jacob Zuma\u2019s son Duduzane Zuma, the political spin doctors made a second trip to South Africa.
This time they charged \u00a3340,086 for a four-day trip which included a suggested speech for Collen Maine for the ANCYL\u2019s National Rally on 7 February 2016 in Tshwane.
The team also composed a statement for the MK Veterans Association and suggested the firm might like to add to a statement by ANC North West Chair, Supra Mahumapelo, with regard to EFF leader Julius Malema\u2019s threats to ban ANN7 journalists.
<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six members of the Bell Pottinger team flew into Johannesburg from London between February 3 and February 7 2016 on a four-day boot camp to assist Gupta family businesses, the ANCYL, as well as Kebby Maphatsoe\u2019s MK Veterans Association to communicate a narrative about the country\u2019s economy from Oakbay’s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 6, 2016, a release by Mondli Mkhize, National Spokesperson for the ANCYL, with regard to a national rally that was due to take place on February 7 in Tshwane, was forwarded to the Bell Pottinger team, a trove of emails known as the #GuptaLeaks has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the same day Victoria Geoghegan thanks the team for forwarding the notice, adding, \u201cAre we able to supply points for the ANCYL leader? Can you find out from Mondli which journalists they are expecting to attend\/report on the march?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later the same day, Geoghegan sent an email to the Bell Pottinger team as well as Gupta associates, including Oakbay CEO, Nazeem Howa, and Sahara Computers head of sales and marketing, Santosh Choubey, stating, \u201cPlease see below suggested content for ANCYL leader. This is deliberately short to ensure a clear message and soundbites for media.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201csuggested content\u201d read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApartheid ended in South Africa in 1994, however, since then South Africans continue to suffer from extreme poverty. In fact, inequality in South Africa is greater today than at the end of apartheid:<\/p>\n\n\n\n