Would Heathrow not be an option to Gatwick or Stansted. From there you can fly South Afrian Airways, Virgin Atlantic or British Airways.

Try Nationwide, they offer direct flights from Gatwick to Jo'Burg.
Or try Emirates via Dubai, very good service and comfort onboard.

Thank you both for your answers, Heathrow is always dodgy to get to and as I have a son to stay with in Crawley or the daughter in Orpington the other two are favourites.

Nationwide offer a direct flight, only 11 hours and although they dont go 7 days a week it might be better me having a night in Joburg before my internal flight next day. Old age means I dont travel so well nowadays, bit like a good wine or beer!

Unless I receive any more suggestions i wil go with Nationwide, thanks a lot, John.