******ion and profiteering is alive

I was recently booked on a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town via OR Tambo.I got to the Check in Counter and was sent to the Drop Bag Counter, where I was behind a couple who had issues with extra luggage.When I got to the counter was advised that the gates had closed and I had missed the flight. It was exactly 29 minutes before take off. I begged the lady to let me know what gate it was and I will run down and check. Based on experience, gates normally closed 20-25r minutes before take off. She insisted that I had missed the flight and I will have to take a later flight. I went back to the counter expecting to pay a penalty for having to change my flight. Imagine my surprise when I was charged a FULL R1607 which to me was more than the cost of a new ticket .I was disgusted. Lucky for me I had saving for the easter weekend which was almost wiped out by this exercise in ******ion. I will definitely not be using This airline again, and as the Branch Manager of a National company , I will be encouraging everyone I know to avoid them.