Capitec bank - cannot accommodate simple requests

I have immigrated to Germany and received a new cellphone from my employer. Little did I know how difficult it would be to activate the Capitec app on my new phone while abroad! No matter what I do, or how I send the activation SMS, it won't activate. Capitec sent me an e-mail with alternative SMS numbers to try with no avail. I then requested that they just change my cellphone number to an international format i.e. +2765***xx instead of 065***x, but I was told I need to do that in the branch! WOW. I did not request a totally new number change, just the format, and for that I have to fly to South Africa? Where is the risk here??? Its the same number? I just want to test if that would activate the app when received from the number outside of SA. The alternative was to request account closure - no use paying a monthly fee if I don't have full functionality. Guess what - I have to fly to SA to do that. Eish. I can't believe. So, I'm stuck now. Advice to anyone planning to immigrate - close your account BEFORE you leave or change your SA number to an international format!