Inner City Gazette Newspaper

SMEs face big brands in battle for talent

Johannesburg - When it comes to talent, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are fishing in the same pool as large companies who offer well-established employee brands, multiple career path opportunities and bigger remuneration packages.

SMEs provide 60% of employment opportunities and vital to the country’s economic recovery and growth, yet the odds seem against them in attracting people they need for their businesses to succeed.

Gender-lens investor, principal and founder at Africa Trust Group, Lelemba Phiri believes that the tide is turning for South African SMEs.

“Traditionally it has been hard for SMEs to offer competitive salaries; however, there is a substantial increase in funding opportunities for SMEs, which can be game-changing when it comes to attracting talent. Government has launched SME funding instruments, but there is also broader investor interest and funding innovations coming to the fore. This can empower SMEs to compete on remuneration and attract high calibre talent. We also see the global rise of fractional work, whereby employees work part-time for different employers during the week; a trend suited to SMEs and

can open access to amazing talent. For instance, you may need a toplevel chief financial officer (CFO) input on your growth strategy, but that kind of salary is not possible in your start-up phase. However, there are now CFOs with those skills changing to fractional work, and you can get that input without paying a monthly salary,” she says. While big business may be offering bigger salaries, SMEs do have advantages in being able to offer more flexibility, learning-on-thejob, career and personal development opportunities, which suit younger generations of workers. Entrepreneurs hiring their first staff members need a focused, streamlined process encompassing all the important milestones; from crafting exact job descriptions to searching, screening, interviewing and making offers. In today’s fastchanging global talent marketplace, this is no longer turning out well, even for the biggest corporate players who find that top and rare talent slips away easily.

CEO of Job Crystal, an AI-based, SME-focused recruitment service, Sasha Knott says SMEs can compete with the big business brands if they can be smart and agile.

“RecTech innovations empower entrepreneurs to reach talent pools that once seemed inaccessible to them. Knowing what talent you need, engaging with potential candidates professionally and making sound but quick decisions can win the talent battle. Our Crystal platform can search and screen 34 million employable people across 43 websites, including job boards, job portals and social media sites, reaching a range of users, active job seekers, screening applications and passive hiders. This means that SMEs can hire better and faster than big businesses,” she says.

Typically, SMEs do not have experienced HR talent on their first team, which means the owner and perhaps an administrative person face the task of recruitment. Lack of recruitment skills can lead to wrong hires and a serious impact on a fledgling company.

Solutions offered by RecTech businesses such as Job Crystal help entrepreneurs to leapfrog this lack of recruitment skills and enable them to follow a strategic recruitment process.

Knott says recruitment costs are exceptionally high in business.

“The recruitment industry is gen-

erally targeted at large corporations, and agency fees are standardised for them. Many SMEs cannot afford those costs or recruitment technology platforms that charge monthly subscriptions, which is why SMEs recruit on their own. Yet in a Price Waterhouse study it was found that a bad hire can cost about R250 000. So as much as recruitment is expensive, getting it wrong can be more expensive. It is important to find recruitment agency solutions that are affordable to the SME sector,” Knott says.

She adds that time is critical for an SME.

“Business owners have to do the sales, admin, marketing, finance, strategy, HR and training. Traditional recruitment tools do not work if you do not have time. Job Crystal’s own study found it takes 33 hours to hire one person, and no small business owner has this time to spare. Our tool Crystal helps with 24 hours of hiring by searching, finding and screening candidates. This frees up the business time to focus on the business and not in it.”

For tips about SME recruitment challenges and possible solutions subscribe to the Job Crystal podcast JobCast featuring Sasha Knott.

Africa Trust founder Lelemba Phiri

CEO of Job Crystal Sasha Knott

While big business may be offering bigger salaries, SMEs do have advantages in being able to offer more flexibility, learning-on-the-job, career and personal development opportunities, which suit younger generations of workers

Steady decline in mobile malware

Make rooM For woMen on international woMen’s day

International Women’s Day was established because there is disparity in our communities and workplaces with regard to the treatment of women.

A day in which we can highlight this and promote awareness also creates opportunities to close the gaps, and work toward complete equality in workplaces and homes.

There is certainly corporate clarity that the best way to achieve workplace equality is through education.

Education empowers not only through skills, but also empowers women by giving motivation and confidence.

Education levels the playing field for women. Sitting around a boardroom table it is often easy for men to feel they have the upper hand in discussions. Women graduates can take part in these conversations with confidence, their knowledge strong and their opinions relevant.

We have way too often had ladies on the other side of the desk, having left abusive relationships, and now trying to secure work to support themselves. Women who have been in long term relationships have also often been homemakers, caregivers and baby sitters. Suddenly they need to play in the same arena as other women and men in a corporate, this (sadly but truly) means they need to have more to offer. The starting point is going to be up to date and relevant education.

Women with an education will not be beholden to their romantic partners. They can earn money, support themselves, achieve promotions and consider themselves mobile in terms of job prospects. But what if you have left an abusive relationship and need to still earn your degree? But also

need to work? It is essential to find an institution with a flexible approach to Higher Education studies enabling women to continue to work, run a home and get a degree.

Having dealt with students from vastly different backgrounds, Boston endeavoured to make the student experience as smooth as possible and as effective as possible. The Boston ecosystem caters to all students, but it enables ease of study for female students even more.

• Women do not need to travel to ‘class’, all lectures are online, creating a safer study journey. And if they are looking after children they do not need to hire baby sitters or worse, leave their kids on their own in order to attend class.

• Working women can study any time and any place. (Tessa, one of our degree students who was working full time and looking after twins, finished her BCom in three years, the minimum time possible!)

• The ‘bespoke’ methodology of Boston caters to those who wish to take 5 modules in one semester and 1 in the next semester, allowing for life events to fit into studies.

Women need to find an institution that caters to them in a bespoke way.

This in terms of a range of qualifications on offer, and the flexibility of when and where to study.

On international women’s day we look to boost women. Studies will prepare them for the working world. At Boson as an example, they will graduate armed with not only the academic skills but also the soft skills that come from the discipline of online learning, and the assertiveness you need to develop to ask your questions, as well as the confidence from being a graduate.

Business and workplace Boston has a flat organisational culture which seeps through to the students. What this means for students is that all are treated the same, and female students feel as valued as their male counterparts. All organisations should identify and better understand how to attract, develop, and retain female talent at all levels.

On this Women’s Day, we need to work to close the unconscious discrepancies that have been inculcated in society for both males and females in terms of which gender is better suited for different types of work and thinking. At Boston we want women to develop their potential beyond cultural and social stereotypes.

Tech Reporter

Following an analysis of the threat landscape of African countries, Kaspersky experts have indicated a steady decline in attacks on mobile devices in the region.

This is as cybercriminals focus on more complicated and profitable threats instead. These findings are featured in the company’s Mobile Threats in 2021 report.

In 2021 South African users faced 38% less mobile malware attacks than in 2020, while Mozambique saw a 48% decrease, followed by Botswana, 58%; Nigeria, 59%; Ethiopia 69% and Ghana 76%.

The only country where attacks increased was Angola, where mobile malware grew by 12%.

This is a reflection of the global trend, as cybercriminals tend to invest less into the mainstream threats that are successfully neutralised by modern security solutions. Instead, they choose to invest more into new mobile malware that has become increasingly complex, featuring new ways to steal users’ banking and gaming credentials, as well as other strands of personal data. For instance in 2021 Kaspersky detected more than 95 000 new mobile banking Trojans in the world, but the number of attacks using such malware remained similar. Additionally, the share of Trojans doubled, reaching 8, 8% in 2021.

In addition to the strategic changes on the mobile threat landscape, ex-

perts also attribute the overall decline of mobile malware in 2021 to the enormous wave of attacks seen at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 as users were forced to work from home. That period also saw increased use of various video conferencing and entertainment apps, increasing the volume and spread of attack opportunities. Now that the situation has stabilised, cybercriminal activity declined.

Kaspersky security researcher Tatyana Shishkova says there has been fewer mobile attacks in general.

“However, the attacks we still see have become more complex and harder to spot. Cybercriminals tend to mask malicious apps under the guise of legitimate applications, which can be downloaded from official app stores. With mobile banking and payment apps becoming widespread, there is a higher chance of cybercriminals targeting these more actively. Staying cautious and careful on the internet and avoiding downloading unknown apps is good practice. I strongly recommend using a reliable solution, when it comes to the security of finances in particular, it is better to be safe than sorry,” she says.

Security researcher Tatyana

Shishkova

“With mobile banking and payment apps becoming widespread, there is a higher chance of cybercriminals targeting these more actively.”

Accelerator programme reveals winners

Johannesburg - The Innovation Hub has announced winners of its 2021 Gauteng Accelerator Programme (GAP) innovation competition.

Business concepts included an Internet of Things (IoT) system to prevent load-shedding, a digital payment platform for spaza shops and a portable DNA testing lab.

First-prize winners and runners-up will receive a share of R3 million in seed funding. They will also get incubation services with technical and business mentors, intellectual property lawyers and access to The Innovation Hub’s network of industry and government partners.

The GAP competition fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in five categories of ICT, bioscience, medical, green economy and township economy. Since its launch in 2011 it has received over 1 400 entries and The Innovation Hub has since invested over R22 million towards over 116 start-ups.

All GAP candidates undergo a year-

long business education programme, after which a panel of judges selects the winners based on their strategy and market potential.

First-prize biotech category winner, Genomyx Lab-in-a-Box (LIAB) by Ronny Mukala Kabongo, offers a portable molecular next-generation sequencing (NGS) laboratory solution for DNA testing in the field, as well as in conventional laboratories. The LIAB includes tools for DNA sample extraction, library preparation, sequencing, and analysis.

In the medical category Health Careware by George Bennie provides a modular software platform that performs large-scale health data analysis using blockchain technology.

In the ICT category, Nthabiseng Mhlanga’s Wakoomulla platform gives small and micro-enterprises such as spaza shops and hairdressers a chance to get paid through the Wakoomulla app instead of card or cash. There is a Wakoomulla app available for smartphone users as well as a text

City urges residents to report needed local services

message-based option (USSD) for non-smartphone users.

The green category’s winner, Paseka Litabe’s Autumn Green, has created a system that connects power grids with appliances and machines in the household, industrial and commercial sector. This system communicates with the national grid to perform load management, and should the grid be under pressure, switches off nonessential appliances until the grid is stable.

In the township economy category, Phindi Hani’s Inqaba Yesizwe Phytopharmaceuticals took top prize with nano silver antiviral colloidal silver that is effective against a variety of infections, including pneumonia, herpes, shingles and warts.

Innovation Hub CEO Pieter Holl said the judges’ decision was not easy. “We congratulate this year’s winners for this achievement. They have set a very high bar for business innovation, and we believe their businesses will be game-changers,” Holl said.

Nkosana Lekotjolo

The City of Joburg has asked residents to guide regarding projects they want in their communities.

Speaker of Council Vasco da Gama says communities know best what infrastructure and services are needed in their areas.

“We ask residents to give inputs into the projects they want within their wards, be it shortage of a clinic, roads, sports facility or swimming pool for that matter. They should narrow their needs down to at least three per ward,” Da Gama says.

He adds that the City has over the years experienced rapid population growth, which has seen an increase of wards to about 135.

“The City will then compile lists of projects from the wards throughout the City and decide on priority

projects that can be implemented,” he says.

He says after Community-Based Planning (CBP) consultative meetings conclude, the City will begin Integrated Development Plan (IDP) sessions with communities, which will provide a platform for Mayor Mpho Phalatse and Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) to update residents about the proposed projects.

Da Gama assures residents that the City’s Section 79 Committees will keep an eye on projects that are being implemented.

“The committees get quarterly reports where the projects are reported and they monitor them,” he adds.

Winners of the 2021 Gauteng Accelerator Programme innovation competition

Speaker of Council Vasco da Gama

‘Communities know best what infrastructure and services are needed in their areas’

Intra-African trade gathers momentum

Virusha Subban

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is gathering momentum on streamlining intra-African trade, providing opportunities for pandemic recovery and growth.

Company engages in charity initiative

Yeoville – The Motsepe Advertising agency recently undertook their first charity initiative since inception in September 2021.

The company delivered food, toiletries and necessities to the Frida Hartley Shelter for destitute women and children in Yeoville.

Co-founder and client service

director at Motsepe Advertising, Boitumelo Motsepe said: “We believe that we will become a catalyst in creating employment opportunities for women and youth.”

Motsepe added that Motsepe Advertising is on the journey to become a global, black female-owned agency that is committed to making

change in the advertising and marketing industry across the world.

“But this journey starts at home. We create an impact and value in the lives of our South Africans, while at the same time challenging our clients to join us in this quest,” Motsepe said.

The shelter accommodates homeless women and children who have endured neglect, abuse and trauma. The shelter’s founder Cheryl Hlabane said the place also houses individuals who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet.

“That includes homeless mothers looking to improve their lives; and those going through financial difficulties from retrenchment or unemployment,” Hlabane said.

On 1 January 2021 trading began in African countries that had ratified the AfCFTA agreement and submitted their tariff offers. All African countries, except Eritrea, have signed the agreement and 39 ratified it, including most of Africa’s major economies that include South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

AfCFTA secretary-general Wamkele Mene said negotiations on the rules of origin had been completed and 87.7% of the rules agreed, and member states would now gazette these legal instruments nationally so that the rules could be applied.

“The Protocol on Dispute Settlement has been operationalised and negotiation of rules for appointing members of the dispute-settlement body is in progress. The AfCFTA tariff book, which will include rules of origin and customs procedures, will be published. This book will enable traders to identify and apply correct rules of origin and associated tariffs to each product.”

A sophisticated pan-African legal and regulatory framework that enables digital trade transactions is also vital. Phase two of AfCFTA negotiations have begun, which include competition policy, investment protection and intellectual property rights, as well as deciding on the rules for governing trade on digital platforms.

The intention is to conclude negotiations by the end of 2022. Further, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that facilitates free trading was launched in January 2022, with the African Export-Import Bank providing liquidity for the settlements

and technology. The secretariat provided legal framework for the platform.

Since the beginning of 2021 negotiations have been taking place via the African Virtual Trade-Diplomacy Platform.

“The physical constraints of doing deals during global lockdowns made the negotiation and due diligence more difficult, but virtual teleconferencing services have provided ability for parties to continue negotiations.”

Africa’s new virtual trade platform has been speeding up negotiations across regions, housing many cultures, languages and legal frameworks. Its use has also laid the foundations for more efficient cross-border negotiations in many other commercial and governmental trade initiatives.

These developments regarding protocols, rules and procedures on trade, simplified customs procedures as well as dispute resolution mechanisms, are aimed at creating a single legal framework, making it easier to trade and invest across borders. The ultimate aim is to eliminate tariffs on intra-African trade, reduce unemployment, increase infrastructure development and create a more competitive yet sustainable environment for crossborder trade.

The impact of Covid-19 has provided further impetus for African governments to overhaul national regulation relating to tariffs, bilateral trade, cross-border initiatives as well as capital flows, which will allow for the full implementation of AfCFTA.

Domestic policies will also play a crucial role in alleviating trade barriers such as corruption, infrastructure development, onerous regulations, liquidity and security threats. It is expected AfCFTA’s momentum will build gradually, with benefits expected from 2030 onwards.

House robber gets 15 years jail

Johannesburg - On Monday the Booysens magistrate’s

a man to 15

“The father at the house was coming from work, parked his vehicle and was confronted by three suspects who pointed a firearm at him. They tied him, his wife, daughter and mother with belts and took three television sets, laptops, cellphones, jewellery and his

vehicle. A Tracker signal was activated and police tried to stop the vehicle at the Golden highway. The suspects shot at the police, who retaliated until the vehicle stopped. Two suspects fled while the accused remained in the car, having sustained gunshot wounds. Most of the stolen items were recovered and a firearm,” Mbele said.

He added that the conviction resulted from diligent work by Investigating Officer Sergeant Mbali Mvelase of Johannesburg Central Trio detectives.

“We hope this will scare would be offenders from committing the same crime,” Mbele said.

Motsepe Advertising members at the shelter during the visit

Secretary-general Wamkele Mene

court sentenced

years imprisonment after he was found guilty of robbery and aggravating circumstances.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the man, Siphamandla Mapeyi, 37, and two accomplices robbed a house at Kibler Park on 17 October 2019.

Increase in vehicle hijackings

Johannesburg - Vehicle crime statistics for the July to December 2021 period by Tracker reveal changes in vehicle crime.

Tracker says in the past three years hijacking had overtaken theft in vehicle crime activities. The statistics, recorded from over a million installed vehicle base, indicate that hijacking attributed 57,5% of vehicle crime activities for the second half of 2021; reversal compared to July to December 2018, when theft was 57. 2%.

“There is an increase in vehicles being targeted for their contents, particularly consumable goods and large amounts of cash. Tracker data indicates that more vehicles are hijacked on Thursdays, followed by Tuesdays, often between 4pm and 8pm. However, the difference is marginal, meaning that hijacking can happen on any day

and at any time. Tracker’s efforts resulted in 3 144 vehicle recoveries, 337 arrests and 22 firearms recovered for the six-month period under review.”

Tracker chief operations officer Duma Ngcobo says these days it is more difficult to steal a vehicle that is locked, armed and in a secure location, versus one that is out on the road and operating.

“We require collaborative effort between private security and law enforcement agencies to tackle vehicle crime, and break the backbone of all crime to create a safer

Initiative to transform entrepreneurs

Johannesburg - In response to changing needs of entrepreneurs, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is rebranding its Bizniz in a Box initiative.

The company said the rebranding is a change of name from Bizniz in a Box to Box2Boss.

“This gives a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship in the township economy; Box2Boss is dedicated to investing in and uplifting the township economy. It is to transform entrepreneurs into fully-fledged businesspeople who can create jobs and provide a livelihood for themselves and others.”

South Africa. However, you too can do your part by fitting a vehicle tracking device. For many people the attitude is that a car is just a car, insurable and replaceable, so they are less likely to fit a tracking device. Technology has a curbing effect in terms of managing vehicle crime because it provides an early indicator of movement of vehicles. Also, it is no longer just about stolen vehicle recovery. It is about what is in the car, and a vehicle tracker can play an active part in keeping you and family safe,” Ngcobo explains.

CCBSA public affairs, communications and sustainability director Nozicelo Ngcobo said the rebranding hopes to be a better solution for the entrepreneurs of 2022.

“We need to be responsive and in tune with what our communities are asking for. It is by no means a handout, but rather support to enable them to create their own livelihoods and be catapulted to the next level,” she says.

To be considered to participate in the programme candidates must be 24 years and older, have at least one year entrepreneurial experience and be an active member of the community. The business should address needs of local communities such as

convenience stores, fast foods stores, car washes and shisa nyamas

For the last seven years the initiative has trained over 700 entrepreneurs, enabling entrepreneurs to curate a developed business operations ecosystem, improve skills, access capital, improve supply chain development and inspire hope.

“By helping one entrepreneur we believe this will help create opportunities for entrepreneurs to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities,” Ngcobo says.

Sustainability director Nozicelo Ngcobo

Statistics indicate an increase in vehicle hijackings

“These days it is more difficult to steal a vehicle that is locked, armed and in a secure location, versus one that is out on the road and operating.”

Joburg Ballet launches anniversary celebration

Joburg Ballet kicks off its 21st anniversary with Evolve, a celebration of dance, to be presented in eight performances at the Joburg Theatre from 25 March to 3 April.

Evolve offers a blend of the new and classical, bringing together four ballets, three of them world premieres, as well as a showpiece from the classical repertoire.

Evolve was to have been presented in 2021 but was postponed to 2022 due to Covid-19.

The new works are The Afterlife: Souls, an introspective piece by principal dancer Shannon Glover, in which she explores the concept of death as the great equalizer; The

Game by Mario Gaglione in which the game of kings has inspired the choreographer to draw parallels between the game of chess and of life; and Legae, an evocative dance piece by Tumelo Lekana about which the choreographer simply says “the leaves pray for the roots to heal”.

The programme’s classic, the Grand Pas from Paquita, provides a showcase for ballerina, partner, soloists and corps de ballet to shine in a series of classical showpieces.

Choreographed in the 19th century by Marius Petipa, creator of legendary ballet classics such as The Sleeping Beauty, Paquita is being produced for Joburg Ballet presentation by soloist Ivan Domiciano.

Theatre presents yearlong production series

Maseko

Celebrating 60 years of storytelling, Joburg Theatre will profile a series of productions to be staged throughout the year.

Those will include SoliiDaD, a heart-moving production by South African born internationally acclaimed choreographer based in France, Vincent Mantsoe, who celebrates 30 years in the arts.

Joburg Ballet artistic director Iain MacDonald says as they celebrate the anniversary, they continue to consolidate standing as a creative force in South African dance.

“In 2021 we presented 13 new works and we are set to continue this trend. This aligns with our vision, which is to offer opportunities for new choreographic voices to be heard, offer works that reflect our world and provide new experiences for audiences, while continuing to honour the classical ballet foundations,” MacDonald says.

All the Covid-19 safety regulations will be observed at the performances.

For more information visit the website www.joburgballet.com.

Call for artists to apply for UJ residence programme

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Artists in Residence Programme is inviting emerging and established artists to submit proposals.

UJ’s new programme aims to advance arts-practice as research, and is open for applications from artists across the globe, but preferably with a connection to Africa.

Artists working in one or a combination of visual arts and fine arts, music, theatre, performance and dance, design, film and television, and literary arts are eligible to apply

for physical and remote residencies.

Applications need to be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from a host department or division at the University of Johannesburg.

The letter of support should include an overview of the role the department will play in the collaboration, and should reflect on the enabling environment it will offer. The programme is open to once-off and multi-year projects set for completion by no later than the end of 2024.

Artists in residence will be remunerated, and in addition to developing a substantial creative project,

will be required to prepare creative output submissions for projects as outlined by the Department of Higher Education, in cooperation with their host department or division at the university. Depending on the nature of residencies, additional administrative and other resources such as office, studio and rehearsal space may be availed to projects.

The closing date for applications is 18 March, and residencies start from 1 May. Application may be submitted on https://form.jotform. com/220392606069052; and for inquiries email pjacobs@uj.ac.za.

Mantsoe created his own dance company, Association Noa in France in 2005, but he returns to SA frequently to continue his multicultural dialogues.

His work includes a fusion of street dance from his childhood with traditional and contemporary dance styles. Spirituality and the cultural influences of African, Aboriginal, Asian, contemporary and ballet traditions are important influences of his work.

Joburg Theatre producer Lindiwe Lekasapa said they are excited to celebrate this milestone of their diamond jubilee of storytelling with a year-long production calendar that features world-class shows such as SoliiDaD.

“It fits well to our 60th celebration within the arts. We are delighted to stage a South Africanborn dancer who creates his figures inspired by the traditions of his ancestors,” she said.

SoliiDaD is a quest to an emperor’s elegant path to oblivion, a piece that resembles birds taking flight, lions prey, howling dogs in the distance, winds, and dust to a silent storm.

A slavish imitation of a great monk’s journey, conversing the narratives on the path to a roaring, hissing torrent of oblivion, a permanent attitude behind changing expressions in thought and action, precious veils saturated with one foot forward.

This production takes patrons on a journey to march; breathe; listen; see; speak to the patient waves of murmuring heat, sweat stinging eyes of a path one has never been to before, yet it seems strangely familiar.

This dance piece has been scheduled to take place in the Lesedi Theatre from 17 to 20 March.

For more information visit the website www.joburgtheatre.com.

Gabriel Fernandes and Monike Cristina in The Game at Joburg Ballet Pic: Lauge SorenSen

Bongani

Choreographer Vincent Mantsoe

Di Sparks

Mia van Schalkwyk

SoliiDaD is a quest to an emperor’s elegant path to oblivion, a piece that resembles birds taking flight, lions prey, howling dogs in the distance, winds, and dust to a silent storm

Coach praises veteran striker

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has praised veteran player Bernard Parker for his dedication and loyalty to the club, a week before he turned 36 years old.

Barker said Parker deserves the respect of fans.

“Football is a game of opinions and everybody has a right to their opinion,” Baxter said.

Baxter praised Parker in his 11th season with Amakhosi, where he

has also featured in 30 Soweto derbies.

“I think even the most hardened Chiefs fans realise that he loves Kaizer Chiefs, and he loves everything about the place, and he puts his body on the line, and they should respect him for that. Parker has no divine right to get appraised, but he is so well-liked by his teammates and respected by the opposition that I think it would be a shame if he is not appreciated. This is sometimes not for his perfor-

mance on the day, but for the person that he is.

I won’t tell the supporters what they should think; they do not need to think like what I am saying. They have their own minds and that is the joy of football. Parker has shown that he is a valuable member of the team and will continue to do so,” Baxter said.

He added that talk about Parker being too old should be put away for a while.

“The way he plays he can get

into any PSL team. He thrives on stretching himself as a person, as a player, and to being what Kaizer Chiefs need him to be. Even if he sits in the stands, he will be the best player in the stands, and if he sits on the bench, he will be a great bench player. All I do is making sure that he stays in that zone where he can give that sort of performance. To his credit, he can still give that, even if I give a bit of inspiration, the motivation comes from Parker and nowhere else,” Baxter said.

Amakhosi striker Bernard Parker

Sports Reporter

‘Parker has no divine right to get appraised, but he is so wellliked by his teammates and respected by the opposition that I think it would be a shame if he is not appreciated’