Using Absa credit card online without SA cellphone number

I am an Absa customer currently living overseas. Recently I had my Absa credit card renewed and couriered to me overseas. On receipt of my credit card I attempted to book some flights online for a return trip to South Africa planned for next year. When it came to making payment for the flights, I got a Secure 3D pop-up requesting the OTP code that was sent to my cellphone. Unfortunately, I did not register for this service and since I do not have a current South African cellphone number that is operational and no OTP was coming through to my current cellphone, I called the 3D Secure Helpline in South Africa to see what could be done. I hadn't registered for Secure 3D and if I had, I would have used my current international cellphone number to receive OTP codes. I was informed by the person who answered the 3D Secure Helpline that OTPs can only be sent to South African cellphone numbers and that if I didn't have an operational cellphone number I had one of two options to consider: The first was to find someone in South Africa and ask if their cellphone number could be used to receive my OTPs thus when I want to complete an online transaction they will receive my OTP and can forward it to me so that I can place the order. The second option was NOT to make online purchases using my Absa credit card. I find it unbelievable that because I don't have a South African cellphone number I CANNOT use my Absa card to make online purchases. The option of using someone in South Africa's cellphone number to receive my OTP is nothing short of ridiculous and makes a mockery of having the secure system in place. I'm hoping that the Absa representative I spoke to might have got it wrong but when I asked to confirm the "options" with her supervisor, she told me that her supervisor would say the same. I find this whole situation unbelievable and highly frustrating.