PRETORIA — A viral social media video showing employees at a Steers fast-food outlet in Menlo Park, Pretoria, performing gardening work instead of their kitchen duties has sparked widespread public outrage and prompted a formal corporate investigation.
The footage (shown in the below X threat) , which circulated rapidly on platforms such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), shows staff members in Steers uniforms trimming trees, pruning plants, and clearing walkways outside the restaurant. The video was recorded by Lebusa Mamaregane, leader of the South African Workers Union Ya Bashumi (SAWU), who confronted both the workers and their manager on site.
Confrontation Raises Labour Concerns
Mamaregane said he intervened over concerns about worker dignity and possible violations of labour laws, arguing that employees were being forced to work outside their contracted job descriptions. (See the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BECEA) for legal definitions of job duties and employer obligations).
In the heated exchange captured on video, Mamaregane is seen removing gardening tools from the workers and throwing them aside, accusing management of exploitation and abuse of power.
“This brother is a chef. He must work as a chef. He is not a gardener,” Mamaregane said during the confrontation.
He later clarified that his intervention was focused on workplace exploitation and not the nationality of the manager involved.
The restaurant supervisor, who is reportedly Zimbabwean, defended the decision in the video, telling Mamaregane that “there is a procedure to follow.” This detail, however, triggered xenophobic commentary on social media, which many critics said distracted from the core labour rights issue at hand.
Steers Responds: Investigation and Corrective Action
Amid growing backlash, Steers South Africa launched an immediate investigation and publicly distanced the brand from the incident.
In a formal statement, the company confirmed that the restaurant manager had asked staff to remove excessive weed growth after exterior maintenance was delayed by the property landlord following the December holiday period.
“While keeping a clean exterior is important, this work should not be carried out by team members. Our staff are the heart of our brand. This is not standard practice at Steers and is unacceptable,” the company said.
Steers acknowledged that the individuals involved had “made the wrong judgement call” and outlined several corrective measures:
- Formal Notice: The franchisee of the Menlo Park outlet has been issued a formal notice.
- Manager Retraining: All managers at the restaurant are undergoing immediate retraining on labour practices and role boundaries.
- Landlord Engagement: Steers is engaging the landlord to ensure proper exterior maintenance services are in place.
- New Guidelines: Clearer operational guidelines are being implemented to prevent a recurrence.
Public Reaction and Union Advocacy
Public response has been divided. While many praised the union’s intervention and Steers’ swift accountability, others called for stronger consequences, including dismissal of the manager and compensation for affected workers.
The incident has also reignited national discussion about the role of unions in protecting workers’ rights. One social media user commented: “This is why unions matter — no worker hired for a fast-food restaurant should be trimming trees.”
Mamaregane and SAWU have since confirmed that the matter will be pursued through formal channels, stressing that “abuse in the workplace will not be normalised or tolerated.”
