Former Hungry Lion Employee Claims He Cleaned Sewage Before Preparing Food
Viable News Team 
A former Hungry Lion employee has made serious allegations about working conditions at the company’s Mall of Tembisa store, claiming staff were required to deal with sewage problems before preparing food for customers.
The employee, who identifies himself on Facebook as Real Collen Lesia, shared his account of why he eventually resigned from the company.
Lesia said he had previously been happy working for Hungry Lion and had progressed within the company after being promoted to Superstar, which he described as a trainee junior manager position.
However, he said his experience changed after he voluntarily transferred to the Mall of Tembisa store.
According to Lesia, the store had serious sanitation and drainage problems, with sewage from the toilets allegedly backing up through the restaurant’s drainage system.
He claimed that the waste had to be removed and dumped every morning before the store opened.
Lesia further alleged that employees had to clean faeces and sewage while having limited cleaning materials and resources available to properly sanitise the affected areas.
He said the conditions were particularly concerning because food was being prepared in the same environment. According to his account, staff were preparing burgers, frying chips and deep-frying chicken while dealing with what he described as an unbearable smell.
The former employee also raised concerns about working hours. He claimed that employees would arrive at around 08:00 and sometimes remain at work until approximately 22:50, despite being required to clock out at 20:00.
He said employees would then be expected to return to work at 08:00 the following morning, leaving little time for rest.
Lesia said the situation reached a turning point after he raised concerns about the conditions and working hours.
According to his account, the store manager allegedly told him that he must not return to the Tembisa store and should immediately return to the store where he had previously worked.
He also alleged that a regional manager later told him, “Clever eats shit,” and that he would remain in lower positions if he continued with his actions.
Lesia said the experience ultimately changed his relationship with the company and contributed to his decision to resign.
He maintained that he did not leave because he was unwilling to work, but because of what he described as unacceptable working conditions and the way his concerns were handled.
The allegations have not been independently verified by Viable Newsroom. Hungry Lion has not been given an opportunity to respond in the information provided. The company’s response would be important in establishing whether the alleged sanitation problems, working practices and management comments occurred as described.
Lesia’s claims should therefore be treated as allegations until independently verified or confirmed by the relevant authorities or Hungry Lion.
Facebook Screenshots of the post.
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