MTN - bad service: my money has disappeared...

On Friday 15 Dec. 2023 I bought mobile data on the MTN app. It was a special package since I was on holiday and not near wi-fi everyday. (50Gb for R399 - not available on my internet banking) The transaction went through on my credit card, but I did not receive the data. I phoned MTN customer care right away, and the person told me there is a problem with the MTN app. On my question how I would have known that, the person said, "didn't you get the info?" I asked which info and the person could not tell me. I phoned again on the same day, and the next person said no, there is no problem with the app. When I asked for her supervisor, she immediately sounded unhappy, but said the supervisor is on the phone. I asked that she phone me back (because it took too long), which didn't happen. There was just a rating on my sister's phone. I phoned again (3rd time) on the same day. The 3rd person at least asked how I paid and gave me her email address to send the proof of payment to her. The next day I phoned the 4rd time and the person just said he couldn't help me. On Tuesday 19th I phoned again, and again the person asked me to send proof of payment via email. On Wed. 20th I phoned again to no avail. The person tried to get the data sent to me, but I received nothing. On Saturday 23rd Dec. I phoned again and asked for a refund. I sent my proof of payment again via email. Nothing happened. On Thursday 28 Dec. I phoned again just to be told the system is offline. On Friday 29th I phoned again for the 8th time to ask for a refund again. The "service champion" (they call themselves that!) sent it through for refund. I promised to wait until 3 Jan. for the refund to show. I looked on 6 Jan. and nothing shows in my account. Tomorrow will be a month and still no show. I want my money back. I am sure I'm not the only one who complains about MTN service delivery. I got a reference number for each of the phone calls that tried something (not the 1st, 4th and 7th one, though), but the reference numbers were sent to my sister's phone and not to the phone (mine) that I phoned from.