If your inbox hasn’t been flooded with coronavirus-related emails from businesses these past few weeks, consider yourself fortunate.

Thanks, restaurant I once booked a table at via email four years ago, I’m glad you’re taking the necessary precautions.

On the flip side, people are generally pretty pleased to hear from Nando’s, who have turned their advertising into a fine art over the years.

Their recent #Mzansipoli advert was a smash hit, and now they’ve gone for tugging on the heartstrings with a video released earlier in the week.

According to Geoff Whyte, the CEO of Nando’s Africa, Middle East, and India, the video is voiced by their inspirational co-founder, Robbie Brozin:

Stay safe, stay home.

This from a Nando’s post on Wednesday:

Your place, not ours (for now)

To our fellow South Africans,

We have all been given a very important order. It’s time to lock down. In the face of COVID-19, we will start closing our restaurants down from the evening of 25th March until the 17th April 2020. This is our national duty. Not only for our employees and their families, but for the safety of all South Africans.

Mzansi we must keep the fire alive in other ways. Remember the power of Ubuntu in these times. “I am because we are”. Let’s be compassionate, let’s not spread fake news, wash our hands, stop panic buying and respect the rule of law.

We’re in this together and we will make it out the other side stronger than we’ve ever been. If there’s one thing this country knows, it’s how to come together… even if we have to stay apart.

Remain at home but enjoy the sun, keep your distance but don’t lose touch, and remember that things will get back to normal!

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.

I don’t know what it’s going to take, but if you won’t listen to the doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, and fellow citizens asking you to #StayHomeSouthAfrica, listen to Nando’s.

Now is not the time for a jog, or a walk on the beach. Do better.

[source:nandos]