Activation of new contract

I went over to Mtn for a brand new contract. I was helped over the phone and I received my new handset just under 2 weeks ago. With the strike going on the call centre is closed and no one can help me to activate my new contract. AT that stage I did not know about the strike. I went to an MTN store and they said only the call centre can activate my phone. I have already put on tempered glass on the screen and got a back cover for my phone. I still have the big sim and they cant even cut it because they say if they cut it it might not work and then I wount have a phone at all. What am I to do? Can I send back the phone to MTN and go over to Vodacom? but who is going to refund me for the tempered glass cover that cost me R200 and that I cant take off the phone now. I have a brand new phone and I cant use it, what am I to do?And when phoning the number where I ordered my phone from, I just get an attitute and an answer of \just keep trying the call centre"one can only try so much without getting frustrated."""