Fast-food chain Steers South Africa has come under public scrutiny after a video surfaced showing workers at its Menlo Park branch in Pretoria performing gardening duties, an incident the company has since described as unacceptable and contrary to its standard practices.
The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows Steers employees removing weeds and clearing overgrown areas outside the restaurant. The scene quickly drew criticism online, with many questioning why fast-food workers were being asked to carry out tasks unrelated to their roles.
In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, Steers South Africa said a preliminary internal investigation revealed that the decision was made at store level. According to the company, the employees were instructed by their manager to remove excessive weed growth because of a delay in maintenance services from the landlord.
“While keeping a clean exterior is important, this work should not be carried out by team members,” the company said. “This is not standard practice at Steers and is unacceptable. It’s clear that these individuals made the wrong call.”
The video also captures a brief exchange between the person filming and one of the workers. When asked why they were doing gardening work, the employee responds quietly, “only God know,” a remark that has resonated with viewers and added to the emotional weight of the incident.
The situation escalates further in the footage, with the man filming later confronting the store manager and removing the gardening tools from the workers. He can be heard expressing anger and accusing the establishment of mistreating its staff.
“This is an abuse of workers. Why do you do this with Black people? This is nonsense. These are not gardeners,” the man shouts, reflecting broader concerns around dignity, labour practices, and racial inequality in the workplace.
The incident has reignited conversations in South Africa about employee rights, power dynamics in low-wage work environments, and the responsibilities of large brands to ensure ethical treatment across all franchises. While Steers has moved to distance itself from the actions of the local manager, public pressure continues to mount for clearer safeguards and accountability.
Steers has not indicated whether disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible but has reiterated that such conduct does not align with the company’s values or operational standards.
As the debate continues online, the episode serves as a reminder that in a country with a long and painful labour history, even seemingly small workplace decisions can carry deep social significance.
