Accepted new flight change without any communication

I booked a flight for the 1st of November 2021 from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg on the 13th of October already via the Discovery vitality portal.

British Airways *** Flight Number BA6241

I arrived at the airport 2 hours 45 minutes early- not one British Airways staff member was on the floor.

I then asked a staff member what is going on and he also did not know what was going on, until a group of people arrived to also check in to the exact flight - only to find out the flight has been cancelled.

I have not recieved ANY communication regarding this, no call, email OR phone call, i contacted BA's call centre and mentioned that the flight time has changed from 18:45 to 15:50 and that Discovery Vitality Travel has accepted this change on my behalf WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION! I had to go to Airlink to purchase a ticket of R3200 just to get home!

I was travelling with a 6 month old baby, what if i did not have the finances to purchase a new ticket? what would have happened?

I am highly upset with this bull**** service that i recieved from you guys!