Steers responds after a video of workers being made to do garden work sparked outrage
Zuko Komisa
- Staff were filmed performing exterior weeding on 7 January 2026 after a lapse in landlord maintenance.
- Steers labelled the manager’s instruction as “unacceptable” and a breach of standard labour practices.
- The franchisee has been formally sanctioned, and all site managers are undergoing immediate labour law retraining.
Fast-food giant Steers has issued a formal notice to a franchisee and mandated immediate staff retraining after a video surfaced showing restaurant employees performing manual gardening tasks.
Following an investigation into the incident on 7 January 2026, the company confirmed that a manager had instructed team members to clear “excessive weed growth” due to a delay in landlord maintenance following the festive period.
How is this acceptable? @SteersSA pic.twitter.com/ihJSxZZJSM
— Papi (@football_papi) January 21, 2026
Steers was quick to condemn the lapse in judgement, stating that while maintaining a clean shopfront is vital, manual landscaping falls entirely outside the remit of restaurant staff.
The company emphasised that such tasks undermine the dignity of their team members and deviate from strict brand protocols.
To prevent a recurrence, the brand is implementing clearer operational guidelines across its network.
In addition to issuing a formal notice to the franchisee, Steers is engaging directly with the landlord to ensure professional maintenance services are restored.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to South African labour laws, noting that the “wrong judgement call” by local management is being addressed through rigorous retraining on role boundaries and staff welfare.