NATIONAL NEWS -A paraplegic from Bloemfontein has been left disillusioned when his trip to watch a live music concert in Johannesburg was cut short by what he calls a “very unprofessional airline that doesn’t make you feel welcome.”
Terence Willemse (35) recently made his way to the Bram Fischer International Airport to board his flight to Johannesburg to go and see the South African leg of the Guns ‘n Roses, Not In This Lifetime tour.
According to Willemse, who was supposed to travel with commuter and regional carrier, CemAir, he was asked to wait 30 minutes before he was addressed by CemAir’s manager, Stephen Geldenhuys. He says Geldenhuys informed him that he wouldn’t be able to board the aeroplane as it was “against the law”. Willemse, who had made prior arrangements for accommodation with his sister, obtaining his plane ticket as well as a ticket for disabled parking at the event, was left in a hopeless situation.
“The manager insisted that he was not going to put me on the plane. He also made a scene in front other passengers, and I had to leave the airport humiliated. To me it was a terrible experience. They made me feel extremely unwelcome and acted very unprofessionally.”
After being refused to board the aeroplane, Willemse left the airport, but received a call from CemAir 30 minutes later, granting him permission to board the aeroplane. “I just want to know how the ‘law’ could change in such short time. Why wasn’t I allowed on the aeroplane in the first place, or why couldn’t the manager make a plan while I was at the airport? I did not return to the airport after the call because I was already back in town and was still upset by the bad experience I had,” Willemse added.
According to Willemse it is not about the money but about missing the excitement of going to see the show. He was also supposed to visit his sister, Cheryl van Lingen, during the same trip.
