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A major fast-food brand is under fire after a viral video exposed workers in uniform allegedly being ordered to swap grills for garden tools — triggering a national backlash over labour abuse, dignity, and accountability.
The footage, filmed outside Steers’ Menlo Park outlet, shows employees trimming trees, pulling weeds, sweeping pavements and clearing leaves — not inside the kitchen, but along the restaurant’s sidewalk and garden area.
The video exploded across social media, drawing fury from South Africans who accused management of humiliating workers and flouting labour laws.
The controversy deepened after it was confirmed that the manager at the centre of the storm is a Zimbabwean foreign national — a revelation that added fuel to an already volatile debate, though unions insist the issue is exploitation, not nationality.
The footage was recorded by South African Workers Union Ya Bashumi (SAWU) leader Lebusa Mamaregane, who said he intervened after spotting staff members he identified as kitchen workers doing what he described as unlawful and degrading tasks.
He accused management of abusing power by forcing employees to perform duties outside their contracts during quiet trading periods.
Union leaders warned that such practices amount to exploitation and a clear breach of labour protections, saying workers are hired under specific terms that cannot be changed at will.
In the video, Mamaregane confronts workers and demands to know where their supervisor is. Moments later, he is seen challenging the supervisor, who tells him he has no authority to question instructions given to staff.
The confrontation escalates. Mamaregane is seen removing shovels from workers and throwing them across the road, accusing management of turning chefs into gardeners.
He is heard saying the workers were being abused and stripped of dignity, insisting a chef should not be ordered to do manual outdoor labour.
The supervisor pushes back, arguing that there are procedures to follow and rejecting Mamaregane’s intervention.
Online, the video detonated.
Viewers accused the outlet of modern-day exploitation, with many calling for arrests, shutdowns, and stricter enforcement of labour laws. Others questioned how often such practices happen unseen.
The debate quickly moved beyond one outlet, igniting broader anger about how low-income workers are treated in the service industry.
Mamaregane later defended his actions, saying his concern was worker safety, dignity, and compliance with South African labour law.
He stressed that the issue was not where the supervisor comes from, but how workers were treated.
He said labour protections apply equally to everyone in South Africa and warned that abuse of workers would not be normalised.
The union confirmed it would pursue the matter formally and take legal steps if necessary.
As pressure mounted, Steers South Africa moved swiftly to distance itself from the conduct shown in the video.
On social media, the company stated that what was seen was unacceptable and not standard practice, confirming an internal investigation was under way.
Following that probe, Steers issued a detailed statement confirming that staff members had been asked to remove excessive weed growth due to delays in landlord maintenance after the December festive season.
The company admitted the decision was wrong.
While acknowledging the importance of a clean exterior, Steers said such work should never be done by team members, describing the incident as a serious lapse in judgement.
Steers confirmed that the franchisee at the Menlo Park outlet has been issued a formal notice.
All managers at the restaurant are being immediately retrained on labour practices and role boundaries.
The company said it is engaging the landlord to ensure proper service providers handle exterior maintenance going forward and that clearer operational guidelines are being rolled out to prevent a repeat.
Steers reiterated that all franchisees are required to comply with South African labour law, food safety rules, and brand standards, saying staff dignity is non-negotiable.
Despite the response, public anger has not cooled.
Labour activists say the incident has exposed how easily workers can be pushed beyond their contracts, especially in low-wage environments where fear of losing a job is real.
Legal experts have also raised questions about possible violations of labour legislation and immigration law, with calls for authorities to examine the matter closely.
As the video continues to circulate, the Menlo Park incident has become more than a single workplace dispute.
It has become a flashpoint — raising uncomfortable questions about power, exploitation, and how many similar cases never make it to camera.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on Steers, the franchise system, and whether decisive action will be enough to restore trust — or whether this scandal will mark a turning point in how workers demand respect.
