The mark of SAA in recent years has been a total lack of consistency in service. I don't fly with them much now, partly for this reason and partly because they no longer offer CPT-LON nonstop. The last flights I did with them on that route were so different it could have been two utterly different airlines. The crew out on the A346 were stunning, cheerful, helpful, friendly, and just wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed the flight. Three weeks later, on the return, sullen, arrogant, aggressive, and unhelpful. Both crew were almost exclusively young, and black, so nothing to do with age or race.
Now Do you really think this is Fair!!?
Jees, no. Have you heard the saying 'life's a bitch'. Nothing's fair. Live with it, deal with it.