Forced to repack bags on the floor in OR Tambo due to ridiculous luggage restrictions

<p>We were allowed bags weighing 30kg on the initial flight from London to JHB, but on the return trip to London we were told my tickets were restricted to 2 bags weighing 23kg each. As my large bag weighed 30kg, it was not permissable and wouldn't be allowed. Apparently in flights leaving from South Africa (amongst a few other countries) you are allowed an allowance of 46kg, but in 2 bags and with no bag allowed weighing more than 23kg. My partner's bag, the exact same size, weighed 23kg exactly and was deemed to be acceptable, while I was told to go and buy a new bag (which I refused).</p> <p> </p> <p>In the end we were forced to unpack and repack our bags on the floor in front of other passengers in the busy OR Tambo terminal, no privacy was provided. 2 christmas presents had to be left behind. At no point on my ticket or in the process of buying was there any obvious information regarding such a ridiculous luggage restriction. We waited more than 15 minutes for an Emirates official to bother to arrive and talk to us (the woman at the counter had to call twice) - she offered no apology at all and said I should read the small print. She scribbled the UAE phone number and a customer service email address on a post-it note and told me to contact them if I want to complain. To top it off the food on the flight was shocking, and very far from the standard which other airlines such as Etihad and Qatar have set.</p> <p><br />Despite writing to the complaints department I am yet to receive any satisfactory reason as to why these rules are being implemented so harshly and why they aren't properly displayed upon purchase of the ticket, regardless of the vendor. I have been travelling on Emirates for more than 15 years and have always considered them a gold standard for other airlines to follow - I will not use them again and will discourage anyone I know from doing so. </p>