cant activate SIM - Network error

Good day I have just opened a new contract with Mtn (first time Mtn user) and was very promptly sent my router and sim card. I was super impressed with the efficiency and level of service in applying for this contract. I then had to activate my sim...wow, how the impressiveness has fluttered away!! You would think that activating a sim should be a pretty simple exercise but alas, no. It has taken me two days of intense focus and repeat dialing of *** and *** (hoping to get a different result), to get through all the preliminaries only to find that ironically you are having network issues and I must 'try again later'. So my initial impression of MTn - remember, I'm a newbie to MTN - has dissipated and now I'm wondering if this is worth it or I should cut my losses and cancel the contract I have not yet been able to use...