Marketing director at KFC South Africa Suhayl Limbada says, "Celebrating 50 years in South Africa with local fans is a big deal for us and so we're going big the only way we know how — by sharing it with Mzansi."

KFC has indicated that it is offering customers 50% off selected products every day from Tuesday, 1 December to Sunday, 20 December. Individuals are encouraged to not wait, as specials are limited to the first 100 customers in store (up to 2 items per transaction). However, the brand adds that should customers order online or via the KFC App, the deals are available all day (up to 5 items per transaction).

To celebrate its 50th anniversary year, KFC also went 50 / 50 with local illustrator Russell Abrahams (AKA Yay Abe) to design a unique collection of limited-edition Birthday Buckets. Inspired by KFC's heritage and the culture of Mzansi, Yay Abe added his style to the iconic KFC buckets to create a range of collectable buckets.

"My intention was to celebrate and illustrate the combined heritage and growth of both KFC and South Africa over the past 50 years, while also bringing to life that good feeling of people coming together to share good times and great meals," says Abrahams. "When people share a meal around these buckets in December, I want them to feel what I felt when I was creating them: hope, joy and pride in South Africa."

There are three collectable Birthday Buckets in the KFC and Yay Abe range:

The 'Heritage Bucket' (nine pieces) is designed for, and dedicated to, the people of KFC, from the founder Colonel Saunders to the KFC employees and to the fans who have welcomed KFC into their daily lives over the past 50 years.

The 'Goodness Bucket' (15 pieces) depicts everything fans love about KFC, from their 'finger lickin' good’™ meals and secret recipe, to their 11-year-old Add Hope Programme that has delivered food supplies to 141 beneficiaries nationwide.

The 'Sharing Bucket' (21 pieces) embodies the special cultural norm of family and friends gathering around a table to enjoy a great meal and good company together.

"Taking a global icon like the KFC buckets and adorning them with illustrations that depict the richness and beauty of our country's diverse cultures is a very special project," says Limbada. "Working with Yay Abe, a local talent and a true original, to tell our original heritage story through our buckets is the perfect ode to KFC's history in South Africa."

KFC also went 50 / 50 with local fashion brand Thesis Lifestyle to create a limited-edition collection of KFC inspired streetwear. The founder of the Soweto-based brand Wandile Zondo and his partner Galebowe Mahlatsi create streetwear that they hope will inspire the next generation to define themselves.

The Thesis x KFC Collection includes an exclusive run of bespoke t-shirts, vests, tote bags and bucket hats. These were designed to reflect what they believe KFC founder Colonel Sanders would be proud to see and experience if he were to visit the streets of South Africa today.

"Bringing together the original style of streetwear in Soweto, with the original flavour and flare of KFC, we want this range to tell a story that salutes the South African people of KFC from their thousands of employees to their millions of fans," says Zondo of Thesis. "Thesis is more than just a brand. It's a lifestyle and the same is true about KFC; it is a part of our culture."

The collection will be on sale from Tuesday, 1 December and 50% of all sales will be going towards the KFC Add Hope programme. 

"The collaboration with Thesis is a perfect fit for us as KFC values originality  in our products and our partnerships. Thesis aims to inspire people to 'define themselves, as their brand slogan," said Limbada.

"As the collection is made for the people and inspired by our street culture, this collection is the perfect way to celebrate how KFC has become a part of everyday life in South Africa over the past 50 years," concludes Limbada. 

KFC will additionally be gifting Thesis x KFC swag items on their social platforms in December with giveaways every day from Monday, 21 December to Wednesday, 30 December. Winners will each win two prizes so they can go 50 / 50 with their loved ones by gifting them too. 

For more information, visit www.kfc.com. You can also follow KFC on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.