UK public relations firm Bell Pottinger drops the Guptas

UK public relations firm Bell Pottinger – accused of stoking racial tension in South Africa - has cut ties with the Gupta family.

The controversial company claimed on Wednesday that it was the target of a politically-driven smear campaign in South Africa.

The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that the Guptas holding company‚ Oakbay‚ had agreed to the termination of the contract.

• Vavi likens Guptas to ‘typical hyena family’ that ‘eats first‚ then everyone else follows’Former general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions Zwelinzima Vavi has lashed out at the Guptas‚ likening them to a “typical hyena family”.

The Sunday Times revealed in March how the Guptas and President Jacob Zuma separately roped in public relations consultants to help them win support after the backlash that followed the axing of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister.

Bell Pottinger was allegedly part of an aggressive strategy to portray the Guptas as victims of a conspiracy involving "white monopoly capital".

• DA demands answers from Jeff Radebe on Gupta's military vehicleThe Democratic Alliance is to write to the Chairperson of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)‚ Minister Jeff Radebe‚ to seek confirmation on whether or not the Gupta family have permission to own the armoured military vehicle currently stationed at their Saxonwold residence.

The company allegedly relied on social media‚ using fake bloggers and Twitter users‚ to manipulate public opinion.

“We have never embarked on any of these smearing‚ racist and politically abusive activities we have been accused of‚” the company said in its statement.