ABSA not an 'International' Bank

I am travelling around East Africa. I requested a new bank card as my existing card was due to expire. I went and tried out the new card. While performing the first transaction, the card was blocked. I contacted ABSA South Africa and they told me I have to go into a branch to get the card reactivated. I could go into one of the ABSA Branches in East Africa. I tried a number of ABSA Branches in a couple of the East African countries and all say they are not linked to the South African ABSA Bank computer system. I find it unbelievable that ABSA in one country is unable to help an ABSA client from another country. What is the purpose of dealing with an 'International' Bank when they are not really international! Furthermore, why can I not get the card reactivated when I am out of the country? Why do I have to go into an ABSA branch in South African? I can make all sorts of transactions and changes to my accounts and cards, by logging in to their online systems, but yet I cannot reactivate my card; Why?