Interstate Bus Lines (IBL) is calling on all its passengers to nominate a group of people who will serve as watchdogs for passengers on matters relating to transport conditions, roadworthiness, tariff increments and other issues related to the transport provider.
“IBL will embark on the re-election of a consultative forum, called the Passenger Focus Group Committee. The committee will act as spokesperson for the passengers and also as a liaison between the management of the company, creating a co-operative environment for commuters in the entire operational area,” IBLspokesperson, Thando Lepele, said in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
Lepele stated that the company would be accepting nominations and elections for all of IBL’s operational areas in the Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Soutpan and Brandfort areas. She further appealed to all users of IBL to nominate and elect their preferred representative and also make these nominees aware of the process.
Lepele said firmly that those interested should note that members of this committee would be neither employed, nor remunerated by IBL. “They do not receive any benefits from the company such as free tickets. They are seen as independent and representing passengers, and any form of reward from the company will be seen as manipulation or bribery,” Lepele said in the statement.
She also stated that the company has appointed an independent company which will manage the nomination and election process. While Lepele did not name the company in question, she further stated that the company will also be responsible for the collection and processing of nomination forms, announcing of the nomination lists, counting of the election votes and finally, announcing the election results.
“Nomination forms will be available at our Main Ticket selling Offices which are located in Central Park Shopping Centre, Botshabelo Mall, and at our depots in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. We will also be distributing forms at the bus ranks in Central Park, Thaba Nchu and Fairways.
“The nomination forms have been designed to make it easy to nominate a representative in the specific area where the passengers are travelling from. The areas were identified based on our main routes to cover the entire operational area. Passengers are requested to obtain a form and nominate a representative that they would want to talk on their behalf,” she explained.
Also, representatives who are nominated should be in possession of a valid IBL tag, and should be a regular IBL passenger residing in or travelling from the area they are nominated to represent. The committee will consist of 19 passenger representative members: 5 for Bloemfontein, 8 for Botshabelo, 4 for Thaba Nchu, and one each for Brandfort as well as representatives for IBL seniors.
The closing date for nominations will be on 31 March 2018 and completed nomination forms can be submitted at the office of the Passenger Liaison Officer at Central Park, Botshabelo Depot, Botshabelo Mall and Thaba Nchu Depot Ticket offices. The nomination forms may be submitted at Central Park, at the office of Passenger Liaison Officer.
The selection of the committee members will be presided by an external company to ensure fair counting of nominated candidates.
PULANE CHOANE
[email protected]
