Contract cancelled my sim card not active as prepaid number

My contract expired last week Wedmesday and i have been trying for a week now, contacting the call centre only to be put back and forth from person to person to try get my cell number back! I have been to 4 MTN stores and all of them say the call centre is only place that can assist me, i have called call centre several times waiting hours only to be left with no help at all!

I NEED THIS NUMBER BACK AS I RUN A BUSINESS WITH IT! I would like to open a new contract with that number but if this is the case then i definately wont use MTN any further!