Non-delivery of luggage renders trip pointless

On Saturday 24 January 2015 I flew down on SA471 from Johannesburg to East London to participate in the Ironman 70.3 ultra triathlon race hosted there. I checked in my bicycle as sports equipment and the rest of my equipment (running shoes, cycling shoes, trisuit, wetsuit, helmet, clothing, nutrition etc) as normal luggage in a medium sized suitcase.<br> <br> While I received my bicycle in East London, my equipment never arrived. The suitcase was never put on the flight.<br> <br> The Baggage Inquiries team in Johannesburg weren't answering phones. Clearly the team at OR Tambo were in no mood to help out a distressed customer, though Lundi in East London was particularly helpful. <br> <br> I only received my suitcase in the early afternoon the next day, after the race was already over.<br> <br> The entire purpose of my trip was to do the race. I have been training for it for over a year. The expenses I had were for nothing as the entire trip was rendered moot, I could not participate in Iron Man 70.3<br> <br> I was directed to Mimi Lokwe, a supervisor in the claims department, as my case was considered too complicated for the call center. She however doesn't answer to email or phone calls, I've had zero feedback.