Telkom SA SOC review: Mobile sim swap - number cancelled

I had a contract with telkom, for the past 6years or so, on the last few months of my last renewal, I was hit with financial constraints causing a default on my payments with telkom, I was then unable to use my number - which caused it to be inactive for more than 3 months.

I was able to recover from my financial turmoil - and now have paid of the amounts I was owing to telkom.

I am now trying to recover my number and do a sim swap - firstly I called telkom to get details of my balance, and was told that - I will be able to do a swim swap once my balance was settled - on the same day I was sent details to make a payment, I did that (13 march 2024) - I then called this morning (16 march 2024) - to confirm if the account was not settled - it was confirmed that it has been settled - I need to go to the store to be able to do a sim swap. (the agent's name was mbali)

I then went to telkom fourways mall to do a sim swap - the assistant told me that my number is cancelled and I will not be able to get it back. (there is nothing I can do). Nb* the number is not allocated to anyone (but I still cannot get it back).

The number is very important to me as I have been using it for years - all of my accounts are linked to that number - and more important information that I need. I am now stuck because of this situation.

I do not understand how a number that was linked to a contract - could be just cancelled without any sort of notification - while there was still outstanding payments that need to be settled.

I need my number back