Three South African journalists have lodged a claim with AIG Europe, the insurer of Bell Pottinger.

The journalists accuse Bell Pottinger of waging a social media campaign which portrayed them as purveyors of fake news, South African news website eNCA reports.

The three journalists are South Africa's Huffington Post editor Ferial Haffajee, Business Day columnist Peter Bruce, News 24's editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson.

They are seeking damages in England for defamation and breach of privacy.

The British PR company went into administration last year after running a racially charged campaign in the country.

The work was criticised for presenting opponents of former South African President Jacob Zuma and the wealthy Gupta family as agents of "white monopoly capital".