Appalled at SAA express service

<p>I was booked for a flight at 1.05pm to East London on the 03.08.2016 with SAA express. I arrived at the CPT airport at 11.20am and collected my boarding passes. Proceeded to check in at 12.43pm, we got to the gate at 12.48pm and the sign above the gate read "open" for boarding. The assistant working at the gate named Craig then informed us that boarding was closed then promptly changed the sign to "closed" for boarding. He told us boarding closed at 12.45pm even though it only commenced at 12.35pm (On boarding pass its circled that boarding closes 15mins before departure). We tried reasoning with Craig but he was very unaccommodating and unwilling to give his name and his manager's name which further delayed us?? We missed our flight and had to pay a penalty which was a huge incovenience. I am appalled, disatisfied, tired and disgusted!!!! All this on election day? Was this flight overbooked? Why did you NOT let us board this flight???????? Even the pilot didnt board at the time we at the gate as he walked passed us.??</p>