Dear valued customers and key stakeholders of our Interstate Bus Lines (Ya Rona)
Together we have come to the end of yet another very busy and challenging year.
In briefly reflecting on the past few months, one can indicate that we have faced some of the challenges that are mostly outside our control, however, with the brilliant team of management and dedicated community of Interstate Bus Lines employees, we managed to overcome them.
As I said way back in 2015, our secret to overcoming these challenges lies in what Martin Luther King Junior once said, “Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge to change”.
As a company that values flexibility, we always try to be flexible when challenging times arise.
Despite the tough times and serious socio-economic challenges we face, we wish to assure you that we remain on course with our mission and commitment to:
· Ensuring safety for our customers;
· A sustainable future for our employees; and
· Caring for the environment and needs of our society.
To this end, we continue to invest heavily in our bus replacement programme despite the financial constraints we face, as we cannot compromise the safety of our commuter community.
Furthermore, during this year, we invested in the development of “Our People, Our Pride”.
Through this initiative, we prioritize our staff by recognising raw talent and nurturing it through leadership and skills development. We do this to ensure our company remain sustainable and our services are maintained at the required standards.
As we end the year on a positive note, we appreciate the cordial and stable industrial relations climate that prevails in our company and we wish to thank our social partners, that being SATAWU and TIRISANO Unions, for ensuring that together we continue to respect our co-determination agreements and remain trailblazers in our industry when it comes to industrial relations.
Furthermore, we wish to thank our suppliers for their outstanding service during the current year as this ensures we continue to deliver quality services.
Thank you to our employer, the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport in the Free State for their guidance and continued trust in us to serve the people of Mangaung and the Free State.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and employees of our company, let me take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the loyal support of our commuter community during previous years and in particular 2023 as it is about to end.
Thank You to the community of Mangaung Metropolitan area and surrounding Free State towns.
May all of you experience safe travels during the forthcoming holiday season, a blessed and Merry Christmas, as well as a prosperous New Year.
Thank you for your loyal support. God Bless you all.
George
George Mokgothu
Executive Chairman
