MTN outgoing calls BLOCKED as "RICA BLOCKED" or SUSPENDED!! Can't get it fixed!

Since yesterday when I try to make outgoing calls on my MTN cellphone number it tells me "You have been RICA BLOCKED or suspended." I have been to a MTN store to try and get re-RICA'd (in case this was the actual problem) but they were not able to re-RICA me and COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. Apparently they could not access their system for this. Apparently I am not the only person that has come into the store today with this problem. Then, try getting hold of MTN "customer care"!! 135 is useless - has such limited choices and NO OPTION TO SPEAK TO A HUMAN BEING/CONSULTANT. Their Whatsapp "AI" BOT at *** is just as useless - just goes around and around asking the same stupid questions and giving irrelevant feedback, also without an option to SPEAK TO A HUMAN BEING!! WHAT IS GOING ON MTN!!!!!???????