Pretoria Steers under fire after staff made to do gardening work

A Steers restaurant in Menlo Park, Pretoria, is facing intense criticism after a video went viral showing staff performing gardening duties instead of their usual kitchen roles. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many questioning workplace fairness and racial sensitivity.

Video sparks public outrage

The footage, recorded by a member of the public, shows employees tasked with removing weeds outside the restaurant. The person filming confronts the store manager, saying:

“This is an abuse of workers. This brother is a chef, he must work as a chef, he is not a gardener. Why do you do this to black people? That’s nonsense.”

At one point, the man takes the garden tools and throws them onto the road, underscoring his frustration at what he described as unfair treatment. The video quickly circulated online, igniting widespread criticism of the restaurant’s management.

Surprised to see @SteersSA employees doing gardening. pic.twitter.com/yOnVeY1P28

Nkululeko Ncube (@Wandi_SA) January 21, 2026

Steers responds

Steers confirmed on Thursday that it had investigated the incident, which occurred on January 7, 2026. The company said the manager had instructed team members to clear excessive weed growth outside the store after a delay in landlord maintenance following the festive season.

“While keeping a clean exterior is important, this work should not be carried out by team members. This is not standard practice at Steers and is unacceptable,” the company said in a statement.

Formal notice and retraining

Following the investigation, Steers issued a formal notice to the franchisee and confirmed that all managers at the restaurant would undergo immediate retraining on labour practices and the importance of maintaining staff role boundaries.

“It’s clear that these individuals made the wrong judgement call. Steers requires all Franchisees to comply fully with South African labour law and our strict food safety and brand standards,” the statement added.

The chain also said it is implementing “clearer operational guidelines” to prevent similar incidents in the future and is working with the landlord to ensure ongoing exterior maintenance is handled by professional service providers.

Workplace dignity and public reaction

The viral video reignited discussions about workplace dignity in South Africa. Social media users criticized the assignment of gardening tasks to kitchen staff, pointing to broader issues of role respect and fair treatment of employees, especially in franchise-based environments.

“Employees are not there to do the manager’s work outside their job description,” tweeted one social media user. “Steers must respect their staff and ensure proper boundaries.”

Steers emphasised that it is committed to “addressing practices that undermine our food safety standards and the dignity and working conditions of our staff.”

Lessons for the fast-food sector

The incident highlights the delicate balance franchises must maintain between operational efficiency and labour rights. Experts say that proper training, clear role definitions, and adherence to labour laws are critical to prevent reputational damage and maintain staff morale.

As Steers works to rebuild trust, the viral video serves as a reminder to all franchise operators in South Africa: respecting employees’ roles is not only a legal obligation but a business imperative.

{Source: The Citizen}

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