Kulula's grounded lights / rebooking

I booked 2 return flights from Durban to OR Tambo and back again for 14 March and 17 March 2022 (CSVNJY). A few days before departing we discover Kulula was grounded. no communication to me until hours before the flight and then I battled to get a flight and it ended up costing 4 times the normal. By late afternoon 16 March Kulula was still grounded so I booked another flight back (again much more expensive). I asked Kulula staff wat happens now and they assured me as soon as they take to the air again the credit will be waiting for me.

then the evening of the 16th (around midnight, after I bought other tickets) i get send an SMS that i am now flaying back with BA.

I called BA, and visited their counter at the airport explaining i already booked elsewhere and they assured me this credit will be available for later use.

today I try book a flight to Cape Town, but now since I want to use the "balance held" I have to speak to consultants. The first one absolutely no help. Second one would not help me as I didn't have immediate access to the booking number form a month ago..... The third one kept rambling a from what sounded like a written script and when I told him I'm not understanding what he's saying he tells me to wait until he's done...... Only, eventually to find out that since they placed me with BA I now first have to get that credit back form BA before we can use this.... I asked how long this takes and no indication at all.....

I've flown with Kulula maybe 20 or 30 times in my life. They were always fair to me, but since the grounding I've lost much faith in them. If I was them I would bend over backwards to fix up with all passengers affected by the grounding, but instead it seems to just be the opposite. Feels almost as if they hope to not have to let me use that now.....