Allocation of my number

I lost my contract phone on the 6/03/2015 and I didn't have insurance for it so I called MTN and asked for a settlement amount which I paid in full on the 16/03/2015. I then went to the MTN store the next day and took up a new contract as the previous on had been cancelled. I got a new tablet and they gave me a new number starting with 084..I had problems with that number as I would get strange calls from collection companies wanting to speak to the person who used that number. I went back to the store to complain about the number and I asked them to give me my old number which is *** as I have been using that number for the past 10 years. It has been 3 weeks since I've been waiting for my number to be activated. I have the Tablet with me however I cannot use it as my number has not been activate. The thing that is frustrating me is that I will be paying for a contract which I am not even using. HelloPeter is my last hope has I've given up on MTN.