Please treat wheel chair travellers with respect. We are not intellectually impaired

11 am Durban airport 7 November 2022

I had excellent wheel chair help from Nare, Evidence and Sihal at Johannesburg and Durban airports but, unfortunately, Mr Simpiwe at Durban airport needs help in how to care for older people. I was waiting at the security check point area for the wheel chair when Mr Simpiwe grabbed the items in my trolley and tried to walk away with them! I asked him what he was doing and why? He said that he was taking my luggage to the wheel chair. I asked him to please bring the wheel chair to my trolley. He was rough and abrasive and he made me anxious. I was looking forward to a happy flight on SAFAIR but he was spoiling the occasion. I felt rattled. I had been invited to attend an official event in Pretoria where a senior government representative among others was going to address us. Simpiwe handles the physically impaired as if they are intellectually impaired. He moves very fast and is not gentle at all. I don't know if he can be helped. I tried to get him to slow down and be kind but Simpiwe does not listen. At the Slow lounge he told me sternly that he would collect me at 12,30 pm. At 12,25 pm, as I was collecting some food he came into the lounge and said we had to go. The gate to the SAFAIR flight was just outside the lifts so I knew that we did not have far to go. He promptly sat himself opposite me and glared at me. I told him to sit somewhere else, as I hurriedly munched a sandwich. I am a stickler for punctuality and I knew that we had enough time. As I got up to leave, an FNB official came over with Simpiwe. It was all very embarrassing as all this was being played out in front of everyone in the Slow Lounge. I had to explain to the FNB lady how Simpiwe's behaviour was unacceptable. She understood and apologized but contrition is not part of how Simpiwe does things. We then left. I explained to Simpiwe that it was how we made people feel that counted when we were serving them. I am a 69 year old medical doctor and I have never been treated by a helper so badly in my life. Simpiwe repeatedly asked me if I could get him a job? At the SAFAIR check in counter we waited at least 10 minutes before we were allowed to board. Simpiwe made the beginning of my journey a ********** experience. There was no need for all the rushing and for Simpiwe's insolence. It was as if Mr Simpiwe felt that it was beneath his dignity to be doing his job. I hope and pray that Mr Simpiwe can be helped.