SAA staff incompetence

SAA are one of the most useless organizations I have had to deal with lately. I booked a ticket to fly to see my uncle who is critically ill and then had to cancel the ticket 2 days later. After 3 different phone calls to the SAA call centre and every person I speak to giving me different information about changing my ticket, I was told I had to drive to the airport to cancel the ticket as it is an international flight. So off I go and speak to someone at the bookings desk which advises me that I can cancel the ticket and have 72 hours to book a new one to avoid losing the money and ticket. So I call them as I'm meant to and book new ticket. They say it's all good and I need to call back this morning once they have a confirmation of any additional charges as its international. I call back at 8am and am told that they have had a reply but can't see what it is yet I must call back. I call back again at 10 only to be told I was given the wrong information and I should have booked the new ticket on the same day as cancelling !! What the hell ??? Now I am due to loose R3500 purely due to staff incompetence and every single person giving me incorrect information! Unacceptable!!