Takealot exposing customers to ********** entitites

Purchased a Note10+ from Takealot in September 2021. Working fine until September 2022 this year where MTN blacklisted the phone and advised it is returned to Takealot. Reached out to Takealot and they 1) provided me with an invoice with no IMEI number 2) the account selling the product is called Elite Shopper yet ERZ Telecoms is on the invoice and 3) have not been forthcoming in providing a plan of action - the constantly mention that they have reached out to seller over the last 10 days since communication began.

Takealot is exposing customers to dangerous third party sellers and are mediating this process. This is worse than eBay Gumtree etc as at least on those you can identify the seller, have direct contact with them and review the risk you'll be undertaking.

Absolutely fuming at a purchase which I should have been protected from