Flight cancelled with no prior notice

I received confirmation of my flight departing at 08:40. When I got to the airport though there was no flight and only upon contacting flysafair by telephone did they say that the flight had been cancelled and the next available flight was only at 20:45. This is highly unacceptable. They made no attempt to get me another earlier flight and no explanation given other than a change of schedule. None of which was advised to me at all before the time.