Gautrain Pretoria Station - is R1 really worth it?

On 6 May, at 16:00, I boarded a train from Johannesburg Station and arrived at Pretoria Station at 16:40. Ordinarily, I obtain a parking ticket at the gate to enter the premises. On this occasion, the ticket failed to process, preventing me from making payment and exiting the premises. I attempted to use both gates, but the issue persisted. I was then instructed to return inside the station to settle the payment.

I explained that I was under time pressure, as I needed to collect my daughter from school. After-hours collection incurs a penalty fee of R150 for every five minutes of delay. Despite raising this concern, I was still directed to go inside to pay. This occurred during peak traffic, therefore I encountered a long queue when I got to the station. Seeking assistance, I approached Mr. Clifford Morake, who responded in a rude and unprofessional manner, shouting at me and insisting that I stand in line despite my explanation of the situation. In contrast, another staff member demonstrated understanding and attempted to assist me, which I greatly appreciated.

I was left questioning was paying R1 for the ticket really worth the significant inconvenience of being late to collect my daughter and incurring an additional R150 penalty. This experience was deeply frustrating, and I respectfully urge Mr. Clifford Morake to improve his customer service approach to better support commuters facing genuine challenges