admin fee on a dormant savings account

a absa savings account that has been dormant for approximately 3 years is now coming back to haunt me. i phoned enquiries to get information as to the closing balance of the account and was informed that they can not give it to me but that i would have to also work out an amount of R15 a month admin fees on the account. i fail to understand how absa could continue charging admin fees on an account where there has been no activity for such a long time. i settled a recovery loan last year and it took some time for absa to update its system which resulted in me loosing the opportunity to buy a house. all i want is to close this savings account and forgot the turmoil this company has brought me. please assist with a settlement amount to close this savings account and please explain how an admin fee can be charged to a savings account with no activity. could absa after one year or even less not close the account, how could they wait so long and let the bill sky rocket.