IN NEED OF ABSA ARCHIVE STATEMENTS

I NEED HELP :(

I need archived bank statements from ABSA (cheque account) to complete my tax return. Initially I tried to download it but got the message "No statements found for the selected search criteria". So I went and saw a lady at my local ABSA branch. After waiting in the queue the helpful bank official warned me that a year's bank statements will cost me R60 / month. I have been receiving a charge statement quarterly that I have been thinking is a normal statement. And now after many trips to the bank and countless phone calls - I am being told that I am not able to retrieve those archive statements. The only statements they can give to me are really no help to me at all. They have no reference details for me to see where money was coming from or going to. Surely there is some protocol to this. I have sent 3 emails to the official ABSA email and have heard nothing back. I am so disappointed. I have seen a previous comment regarding to the exact problem I have and that lady was luckily helped and she received all the documents she was needing.