There are a few institutions which South Africans hold sacred and can always expect to happen: beer, braai, lines at the pump before a fuel price hike and fast food chicken outfit Nando’s making fun of current affairs. Famed for its grilled chicken, the company has also made great strides in its marketing, which has poked fun at the controversial Spear Of The Nation painting, dictators from across the country’s borders and even at the diversity of the people in South Africa.

So it is no accident that Nando’s had a response for Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela’s Twitter musing (@toshpolela). The lawyer wrote that recently convicted murderer Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye’s supporters ought to give him a jar of vaseline – implying he awaits rape in jail.

“You shouldn’t tweet when you are hungry, McIntosh,” Nando’s, as revealed by The Star newspaper, proclaimed on a poster. “Next time you’re thinking about tweeting, do yourself (and your followers) a favour and come to Nando’s instead. Unlike your jokes, our flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken is always tasteful.”

Polela, who has since apologised for his original tweet, responded tongue-in-cheek: “And Nando’s owes me money 4 using my name to advertise chicken.” When asked by a follower if he will be boycotting Nando’s, he responded: “Boycotting chicken is not good for my health. But I’ve certainly boycotted shisanyama [a township bring-n-braai]”

To be honest, Polela’s tweets were at least funnier than the Nando’s poster.

By James Francis