The Julius Malema puppet has been auctioned off for R100 000, Nando's said on Thursday.

The puppet which starred in the fast food chain's recent TV advert and became a "celebrity overnight" was sold to Ryan Lotter from Johannesburg.

It was auctioned for a charity group that funds, among other things, courses in woodwork, the subject Malema notoriously scored a GG for in matric.

"We are very sad to see Julius go because we have become very fond of him and has become a highlight in the office.

"We did however offer him one last Nando's lunch and he's always invited to Nando's anytime," Nando's brand manager Lara Easthorpe said in a statement.

According to a report on Independent Online, Lotter said he was considering giving his new puppet to Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille. Malema recently called her a "racist little girl".

Bidding in the auction went through The Star newspaper and ended at midnight on Wednesday.

The puppet first starred in an advert mocking the ANC Youth League leader's "demand for change".

"You order a quarter peri-peri chicken with chips and a cooldrink for R33.95," said the puppet.

"You pay with R40, you get R6.05 change, but if you pay with R100, you get R66.05 change. That's more change than you paid for the meal in the first place."

After it was screened the ANCYL threatened "militant action" if Nando's did not withdraw it. The chicken outlet, known for its risque advertising campaigns, responded by reflighting the ad with the face of "Julius" blurred and his voice distorted. It also featured a running strip at the bottom of the screen, declaring that the picture and sound had been masked to protect innocent parties.

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