Steers admits manager error as chefs stop gardening in Menlopark

Steers owned the mess, blamed a manager call, and promised a cleanup so uniforms stay near grills, not weeds.

What set this off

• A video showed staff gardening outside a Steers restaurant.
• The clip dates back to January 7, 2026.
• Social media did what it always does.

What Steers says happened

• Steers says a manager told staff to clear weeds.
• The reason given was delayed landlord maintenance after December.
• Corporate says that the decision crossed a line.

Where Steers draws the boundary

• Cleaning the exterior matters, but not by the food staff.
• Gardening is not part of staff roles.
• The company flat-out calls the practice unacceptable.

Who messed up, according to them

• Steers says the individuals involved made the wrong judgment call.
• This was framed as a local management issue, not a brand rule.
• Head office is distancing itself hard.

What action was taken

• The franchisee got a formal notice.
• Landlords are being pushed to lock in proper maintenance services.
• Managers at the store are being retrained immediately.

What changes are coming

• Clearer operational rules are being rolled out.
• The goal is to stop this kind of thing before it starts.
• Role boundaries are being emphasized as non-negotiable.

Food safety angle

• Steers tied the issue directly to hygiene standards.
• Gardening and food prep are being treated as incompatible zones.
• Brand standards were put front and center.

How Steers wrapped it up

• The company stressed dignity and working conditions for staff.
• Customers and employees were both named as priorities.
• The tone was apologetic plus control damage, no deflection left.

Steers South Africa workers doing gardening before cooking

• Queen
• Jan 23, 2026
• business healthcare indaba mzansi news nhau nyuuz south africa

Steers South Africa workers were seen doing gardening work on the side of the road before...