Times are and have been exceptionally tough for South Africans and we’re feeling a bit vulnerable and desperate. What makes matters worse is the fact that there are a few organisations, syndicates, individuals and even our government feeding on that desperation through a myriad of scams, schemes and fraudulent behaviour. 

Pyramid schemes, faux forex traders, dodgy doctors, catfish, Eskom and scams of different shapes and sizes, have taken Mzansi by storm – all of them being experts in taking us for a ride. 

In this commercial we wanted to help South Africans keep their wits about them, by giving them an inside look into South Africa’s scamming underworld – simultaneously positioning our new Nando’s Always Affordable Prego meal as something worth spending your money on. 

We created a TVC called ‘Scamandla!’ which is the rallying cry of ‘SASA – South African Scamming Association’ – the fake organisation that we created to house some of the weird, wonderful and infamous scams and scammers that have made some waves in recent South African headlines. 

‘Scamandla!’ opens outside a posh mansion in Saxonwold. Inside, we see a clandestine roundtable brainstorm of the ‘South African Scamming Association’.

They’re looking for an innovative way to dupe South African’s into giving them their money – little do they know, their entire meeting is being surveyed by two local heroes, who’ve run a sting operation to catch them in the act – giving South Africans a win and positioning Nando’s as the Public Protector against fraudsters in Mzansi.

KEY REFERENCES

“Cash cow” / “digital and vibey” – the famed Digital Vibes Scam and it’s Nguni Cow Mascot.

“spiritual department” – Tokyo Sexwale’s Spiritual White Boy scam.

“419s” – refers to the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud, the charges and penalties for offenders.

Empty Seats behind nameplates – Scammers who were unable to attend the brainstorm, as they’ve already been apprehended.