Portuguese visa_ application through VFS, South Africa_ no one cares

I app**** with at least 20 working days for my Portuguese Visa through VFS, Durban office. I visited the VFS office 7 times within the 5 preceding days of my trip. Each time I was told not to worry, "Portugal always leaves it to the last minute/ day of departure". VFS told me that the Embassy in Pretoria ignores their phone calls, and does not respond their emails timeously. I found this out the day before my trip (so much for thinking & trusting that the service provider and intermediary work well together). I emailed the Embassy but it was too late. I missed my flight, had to reschedule, which has cost me thousands of Rands. I found out the same thing happened to a friend of mine in Cape Town (who was meant to depart the same day as me). We both received our passports and visas the following day.

Now we are waiting for my husband's visa (he flies out on Friday). He app**** 24 working days ago. Are we going to go through the same experience with him? We can't afford for it to happen again. Feeling hopeless.