A viral video filmed on January 21st at a Steers outlet in Pretoria has ignited a national firestorm over worker rights, retail labor practices, and hygiene standards, placing the iconic South African fast-food brand under intense public scrutiny. The footage, shot during apparent quiet hours, shows kitchen staff—identifiable by their work attire—engaged in cleaning and gardening along the roadside, pulling weeds and clearing debris, while a supervisor watches on.
The situation escalates within the clip as an employee confronts the store manager, questioning why kitchen staff are performing such duties. The manager is heard robustly defending the practice, calling it a standard and routine procedure for maintaining the restaurant’s external environment during periods of low customer traffic.
The video spread like wildfire across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where it sparked immediate outrage. Viewers expressed dual concerns: first, over the potential exploitation of workers being tasked with jobs outside their stated roles and training, and second, over severe hygiene violations, given that individuals handling food were seen working with soil and public waste before presumably returning to the kitchen.
Steers’ Corporate Intervention and Investigation
The public pressure prompted a swift corporate response. The official Steers South Africa account on X issued a clear statement aimed at damage control: “We value all our employees and their well-being is our priority. Staff are never required to perform gardening or cleanup duties outside of the restaurant.” The brand confirmed it had launched a “serious investigation” into the incident at the specific franchised outlet, distancing the corporate parent from the alleged practices while acknowledging the gravity of the allegations.
A Brewing Storm of Broader Debates
The incident has become a flashpoint for several volatile socio-economic tensions in South Africa:
- Worker Exploitation and “Multi-tasking”: The core debate centers on the expectation for low-wage retail and fast-food workers to perform tasks far beyond their job descriptions. Critics argue this is a form of economic coercion, where employees fearful of losing scarce jobs feel compelled to accept unreasonable demands. The question of whether “quiet time” can be legitimately used for unrelated maintenance work, without proper training, equipment, or adjustment to pay, is fiercely contested.
- Hygiene and Public Safety: The health risk aspect has alarmed customers. “How can I be sure the person who made my burger wasn’t elbow-deep in roadside litter an hour before?” read one typical comment. This strikes at the fundamental trust in food safety protocols within the quick-service restaurant industry.
- Identity and Xenophobia: A troubling and unverified sub-narrative emerged online, with claims focusing on the manager’s reported Zimbabwean nationality. This sparked a divisive and xenophobic thread within the discussions, echoing broader tensions in South Africa’s competitive job market. Many commentators and civil society groups have urgently warned against diverting the issue from labor rights to nationalist scapegoating, emphasizing that exploitation is wrong regardless of the perpetrator’s origin.
- The Franchise Model Under Scrutiny: The situation highlights the accountability gap that can exist in franchise operations, where local franchisees have significant operational autonomy, yet the global brand bears the reputational risk. The public is watching closely to see how deeply Steers investigates its franchise partner and what corrective actions are taken.
Calls for Boycott and Union Action
The outcry has translated into tangible threats. Calls for a boycott of the specific Pretoria outlet and even the broader Steers brand are gaining traction online, with the hashtag #BoycottSteers circulating. Labor unions have also begun weighing in, promising to investigate potential breaches of employment contracts and occupational health and safety laws. They argue that requiring food handlers to perform landscaping duties constitutes a violation of their agreed-upon terms of employment and exposes them to unnecessary biological hazards.
As the corporate investigation proceeds, the Pretoria incident has transcended a single workplace dispute. It has become a potent symbol of the frustrations surrounding dignity, fairness, and safety for millions of workers in South Africa’s precarious service economy. The outcome will be closely watched as a test case for corporate accountability, the limits of employer demands, and the power of public opinion in the digital age.
About The Author
