ABSA Properties - run very far away!!

I really wish there was a minus star or half a star - they don't even deserve 1 star. We excitedly started the purchase of an ABSA owned property on 18/02/2024 - as at today, 1 year and 1 month later, we are fighting to get access to the property to carry out repairs. The property was vandalized and some repairs were carried out by ABSA service providers. However currently the electrical work and plumbing work are not complete, the windows don't have stays or handles, the main door doesn't have a lock, the driveway gate motor is not installed and the walls have huge cracks after the vandalism. In the last month we've been trying to get ABSA to allow us onto the property to fix the windows, doors, cracks and paint. We were allowed once on a specific date and time. Today we were told that us carrying out repairs will pose a risk to the security guard stationed there - so we asked - was the guard not at risk during the electrical and plumbing work? Then we were told that we need to take early occupation - how do we live in a house where the windows and doors don't close or lock? Apparently ABSA doesn't think that we as the purchasers will be at risk?

This process is an absolute nightmare - we wish that we could cancel and forget that ABSA Bank even exists. We have to deal with them via their attorneys - we don't know who makes the decisions but it takes them days or weeks before they respond to anything.

Throughout this entire process, we have had to threaten to cancel or publicly report the bank and the agent before we received any answers.

We're now wondering if we're being treated this way because we're first time buyers or if we're just the wrong color to own a property?

For others wishing to deal with ABSA - our advice is run....run very far away to another institution who will treat you with respect.