PEP Misinformation that the customer must suffer for

I bought 2 Nokia 215 4G cell phones at PEP Mall of the north Polokwane on 19 December 2021. I specifically asked the salesperson can I use any sim card they said yes. Now I was taking the cell phones as gifts to 2 old people out of town who had old cell phones. When I got to their place on Christmas I found that the cell is sim locked to vodacom and is not compatable with the sim cards. I was misinformed completely by PEP staff. so by the time I get back to return the the phones because I had taken the phones as gifts to the people out of town, the 7 days are over and they refuse to take the phone back. PEP must give me a refund, unlock these phones so I can use them or give me other phones. They must be willing to assist in some way or the other for the misinformation and lack of training of their staff. Even in the form of a voucher or something.