Pre-School Facelift

Interstate Bus Lines has once again lived up to its motto “Together We Progress” by investing around R25 000.00 through undertaking renovations of Tshepong Pre-School in Section K, Botshabelo. Tshepong Pre-School is home and a place of Early Childhood Development to around 120 children during the day whilst parents are at work.

“We are in the business of taking people through different journeys and this one is a Journey of Difference in the lives of tomorrow’s nation. We value the support we receive from the people of Botshabelo and how befitting it is to invest in the infrastructure that will make Botshabelo children better learners, residents and people who will make a difference in our country. The foundation of all this is Early Childhood Development” said George Mokgothu, Stakeholder Relations Manager at Interstate Bus Lines.

Mokgothu also thanked Mr. David Nketsi, the local contractor who did a splendid job. “Projects of this nature undertaken by Interstate Bus Lines have indirect benefits in that a local contractor like the capable Mr. David Nketsi is able to be economically active and thus ensure his family and the family of his assistants gets some income. The other rippling effect is that people who witness the great job will in future make use of Mr. Nketsi’s services. Indeed Together We Progress and in the spirit of our government, Working Together We Can Do More” said Mokgothu.

Mrs. Mabope in thanking Interstate Bus Lines told a moving story of how she has as an individual developed since she became part of the initial stages of the erstwhile Crèches Care Projects which was sponsored by Interstate Bus Lines since 1987. She told the parents and children that since being part of the first ECD practitioners who were trained by the Interstate Bus Line’s Crèches Care Project, she has been inspired and has developed herself academically to the level of passing an ECD diploma as well as a Honors Degree. “Through this genuine empowerment, Tshepong Pre-School has grown from strength to strength and has produced engineers and highly educated students who originate from this firm foundation. If it was not for Interstate Bus Lines commitment in the ECD field, we would not have been this far” said an excited Me Mabope.

In the photo:

Back row from left: Me. Mabope (Principal of Tshepong Pre-School); Mr. Masiu (Parents Committee member); Mr. Nketsi (Local Contractor), Mr. George Mokgothu (Stakeholder Relations Manager- Interstate Bus Lines); Me. Letsoara (Parents Committee member).

In front; Tshepong Pre-School children, who benefits from the now conducive and renovated Pre-School building.

Lebone House - World Cup 2010

World Cup Fever Hits Lebone House

Lebone house children are also geared to support Bafana-Bafana in the 2010 FIFA World cup thanks to Interstate Bus Lines. Just before the start of soccer spectacle on the 19^th of May 2010, the children returned with big bags full of groceries and brand new warm blankets so as they don’t feel the effect of cold winter extensively.

That was however not the end of IBL’s contribution, as they also brought vuvuzela’s, soccer balls, SA flags, supporters hats and delicious snack packs for 80 children on the 28^th of May 2010. IBL Staff and Lebone house children enjoyed playing and blowing vuvuzela’s together.

ABASA Career Exhibition

ABASA Free State hosted a career exhibition in Thaba Nchu (Moroka Secondary School) on the 09^th August 2010. This event was aimed to offer career guidance and information on available opportunities to both teachers and learners.

It is during this interaction that ABASA aims to create awareness of the different careers and opportunities. Learners were also provided with relevant information in terms of bursaries available, universities to study at and other useful information.

Interstate Bus Lines was the main sponsor R10 000.00 for the career guidance, Mr. Shadrack Mokotedi (Revenue Accountant / Manager) at Interstate Bus Lines addressed more than 700 learners from different schools in Thaba Nchu (Grade 12 learners) on the different opportunities available within the Accounting career path.

Winter Relief Project - 2010

“Thusa ya Hlokang”

Interstate Bus Lines held a Winter Relief Project at Floreat Hall (Bloemfontein) on the 19^th of May 2010. Where Mangaung grandmothers & fathers (Lapologang Old age home), child headed and orphaned children (Lebone house) had fantastic time singing songs of joy before receiving their blankets & grocery hampers.

IBL invited Speaker of Mangaung Municipality Thami Stander and Representative from Premier’s office Dr. Maboreng Maharaswa, they both thanked IBL for their great initiative and encouraged the community to be thankful when they are given as it is another form of poverty alleviation project as department of Social development can’t reach all communities but IBL is their other hand which helps to reach out to the community. IBL Choir gave soothing renditions of church hymns much to the delight of the audience.

In line with our intention to be a caring corporate citizen through our social Investment Programme, there was a need for us to purchase blankets & Grocery hampers for disadvantaged communities, orphaned and child headed families, Old age homes in our operational area, as a way of ensuring that the effect of the cold winter is not felt extensively.

 Our company’s Client base and target market over the years have been mostly poor communities of Bloemfontein, Botshabelo & Thaba Nchu. This is based on the fact that we render affordable transport service that those with no steady income can afford to use our buses.

Number of Beneficiaries: 100

Total Cost / value: R50 000.00

DRIVER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

DRIVER OF THE YEAR IN-HOUSE COMPETITION - 2010

Driver of the year in-house competition was held on the 24th of April 2010 at Lengau testing Centre. Training department encouraged drivers to participate with a view to improve their driving skills. Most of the participants were old drivers but overall the competition went very well as 

drivers portrayed their skills, the below mentioned top five were awarded at the long service awards in May 2010.

Winners are as follows: 

MALES:

1. M. D Thebe - 1362 out of 1650 Points

2. S. Motlhatlhedi - 1294

3. W. Windvoel - 1208

4. L.L Hlobo - 1206

5. B. Pay - 1188   

FEMALES:

1. V. L Ntlathi - 1289 out of 1650 points                              

2. M. L Sebusi - 1129

3. N. G Mqweba - 1127

4. M. Tjale - 1121

5. A. Tlhapi - 1094

Highest road:

S. Motlhatlhedi ~ 564 out of 600 points

Highest track:

L. L Hlobo ~ 770 out 900 points

Highest score of the day:

M. D Thebe ~ 1362 out of 1650

Mandela Day 2010

“Nelson Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place, IBL asked for only 67 minutes of charity work”. When Mandela turned 92 on the 18^th of July 2010, the call went out world wide to celebrate his birthday by acting on the idea that each person has the power to change the world.

Interstate Bus Lines celebrated Nelson Mandela day with disadvantaged community of Mangaung who had a lot of fun at IBL Head Office with staff members and the IBL choir. Children received clothes and goody bags and had fun playing on the jumping castle; older people also received clothes and food. IBL Staff and Management felt it was important to put a smile on our disadvantaged community for 67 minutes and even more.

Response - Cosatu Statement

18 August 2010

Response – Cosatu statement on racism and exploitation of workers by Interstate Bus Lines (IBL) management in Bloemfontein

Interstate Bus Lines regrets and is highly disappointed by the unfortunate decision of COSATU Free State to issue a press statement based on allegations that COSATU did not even bother to verify with Interstate Bus Lines as a company against which such allegations are made. Furthermore the company is extremely disappointed by the apparent position that COSATU has on this matter despite the fact that at no stage did they seek the version of the company on this allegations. Interstate Bus Lines believes that COSATU through its Provincial Secretary in the Free State could have as a matter of courtesy at least sought a response from the company such that it can verify the merits of such allegations which are damaging to its reputation as a company with a record of excellence in terms of both management and operations in the Free State.

Interstate Bus Lines hereby confirms that it has a history of good working relations with SATAWU which is an affiliate of COSATU and that it has under no circumstances embarked on the alleged union bashing. The company can confirm that the suspension of four shop-stewards out of the seven that SATAWU has in the company happened on 04^th August 2010, and SATAWU was consulted on the same day, prior to the unlawful action of “picketing” that took place on 6^th August 2010 and again on 10^th August 2010 outside the company premises and SATAWU as a union was consulted in this regard in line with our Recognition Agreement and they have the full facts around this. A second consultation with SATAWU also took place on 16^th August 2010 to inform them on the findings of the internal investigations and the decision of the company on instituting disciplinary steps against these shop stewards who like other employees despite their position of being union representatives are company employees and has to adhere to the policies and be subjected to the Disciplinary Code and Procedure of the company. The company can confirm that the said shop stewards suspension is not related to them raising any allegations and has to do with company rules as included in the company Disciplinary Code and Procedure which is legally compliant and applicable to all employees irrespective of their union affiliation.

The company can confirm that it has always investigated and continues to do so on allegations raised by both recognized trade unions in the company and that being SATAWU and TAWUSA and even where one party is not totally agreeing to the findings and raises issues of management biasness, has enlisted the services external, competent CCMA Commissioners to further investigate and recommend.

With regards to the allegations of racism and alleged assault it is a fact that when SATAWU raised their unhappiness on the findings of internal investigations and threatened unlawful picketing, the company in its endeavor for fairness and justice referred the matter to CCMA and to that effect both SATAWU and IBL Management agreed and signed an agreement on 14^th July 2010 before a Senior CCMA Commissioner that a Commission of Enquiry will be instituted and it will present its report before the end of August 2010. The company communicated a date for this Commission to be 24^th August 2010 to SATAWU on Wednesday 11^th August 2010 after the Senior Commissioner has indicated his availability to look into the matters. On 16^th August 2010, the same date that COSATU posted this one sided media release, both SATAWU and IBL agreed on the terms of reference for this Commission and this confirms to a great extent that IBL Management is committed to decisively dealing with the said allegations.

Finally we would like to confirm that under no circumstances will IBL Management allow situations of racism and unfair discrimination in the company as purported by COSATU and wish to remind COSATU Free State that it has a history of cordial relations with the trade union movement and is always available to engage on any allegation to avoid further misunderstandings and unfortunate engagement via the media whilst the leadership of COSATU has never been denied access to the company or a hearing by IBL Management. We hope that COSATU Free State will allow the due process to unfold and to be finalized as is the agreement reached between IBL Management and SATAWU during the meeting on 11^th August 2010 and we can assure them that under no circumstances will any employee of this company be unfairly prejudiced and it has never been the case in the past.

We hope that the response will assist in providing more clarity to the issues raised in your enquiry and we thank you for making contact with us.

Released by:

George Mokgothu

Stakeholder Relations Manager

Interstate Bus Lines

Tel: 051 448 4951 ext. 244

Cell: 083 407 1114

Fax: 086 675 2599

Email: george@interstate.co.za