Nando’s are renowned for their cheeky and tongue-in-cheek adverts. Do you remember the busty blonde who “lost” her chips beneath her bosom? They know that the public responds to their topical content and quirky campaigns.

Once again, Nando's did not fail to deliver.

They recently released a television and radio advertisement that has offended the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) tremendously. The ad features a puppet figure (who looks uncannily like Julius Malema, the ANCYL leader) and guess what - the puppet’s name is Julius too! Coincidence? I (and the ANCYL) think not.

When interviewed by a phony election news reader, Julius (the puppet) demands “change”. However, the change he is referring to is not quite politically motivated but rather turns out to be a plug for Nando's.

Funny, right?

Wrong - according to the ANCYL. They were NOT amused with having their leader portrayed as endorsing the chicken products. They called for the immediate withdrawal of the “offensive, racist” advert from television and radio and even commissioned their lawyers to investigate this “cheap satire” used to "undermine" electoral politics in South Africa. 

When Nando’s marketing manager, Sylvester Chauke was asked about the advert, he said the topic was chosen because of its relevant political theme. In response to the alleged “attack” on Julius Malema, he denied having a stab at him and raised an interesting point: “what is it that Nando’s said in the advert that is negative about him?”.  

So is it freedom of expression or mockery? Either way, it still makes me dream of a chicken burger.

(Watch this space cause a little cyber chick told me there may soon be another advert to cluck over).