The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges decisive court action as Ferial Haffajee seeks justice for organized troll campaign

Location: United Kingdom, London
Date: May 21, 2018

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in firm solidarity with South African journalists Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce, and Adriaan Basson in their defamation lawsuit against AIG Europe, the insurer for the now-defunct PR firm Bell Pottinger. The lawsuit seeks justice for the defamatory and privacy-violating actions orchestrated by PR company Bell Pottinger. Their organized troll campaign is a stark reminder of the lengths to which entities will go to manipulate public opinion and silence critical voices. The targeted journalists were subject to racially charged and defamatory attacks through fake Twitter accounts, a tactic aimed at discrediting their crucial investigative work exposing corruption. This lawsuit is not just a fight for personal vindication but a pivotal stand against the broader menace of social media manipulation using sophisticated technology. The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges the court to rule decisively in favor of Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce, and Adriaan Basson. We call for a ruling that not only awards damages for defamation and breach of privacy but also sends a powerful message that such malicious campaigns will not be tolerated. 

Read latest reports from the globe

Ferial Haffajee has filed a defamation lawsuit against AIG Europe, the insurer for the now-defunct Bell Pottinger, over the PR firm's involvement in the controversial "White Monopoly Capital" (WMC) campaign. 

The lawsuit, filed by London-based law firm Leigh Day on behalf of Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce, and Adriaan Basson, seeks damages for defamation and breach of privacy. The journalists allege that Bell Pottinger orchestrated a racially divisive media campaign that damaged their reputations.

Bell Pottinger was hired by Oakbay Investments, owned by the Gupta family, in January 2016. The firm’s task was to manage the Guptas' reputation amid increasing scrutiny of their ties to then-President Jacob Zuma. 

The journalists claim they were targeted in the WMC campaign due to their critical reporting on the Guptas and their alleged corruption. The campaign included fake Twitter accounts that disseminated defamatory and racially charged messages against them.

Richard Meeran, the Leigh Day lawyer representing the journalists, says the lawsuit may have ramifications well beyond South Africa as it “highlights the increasingly worrying menace of social media backed by sophisticated technology being used to manipulate public opinion with fake information.” 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses its unwavering support for Ferial Haffajee, Peter Bruce, and Adriaan Basson in their defamation lawsuit and calls upon the court to deliver a ruling that unequivocally supports the journalists. We believe that a ruling in favor of these brave journalists will reinforce the essential principle that freedom of the press must be protected. It will also demonstrate that malicious attempts to manipulate public perception through fake information are intolerable and punishable by law.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.