3 months to get my tablet back

Hello Peter my name is ricardo on 3 January 2015 I took my tablet to telkom store in eastrand mall after a week in repair we received a msg that says your tablet have been deemed out of waranty but no one could tell us why as the tablet was only six months old and after strugling to fing out why they said its a batery problem and they quote me R1196 so we refuse to pay and request to bring the tablet back which I find amuse they keep on telling us its the courier service I've phoned many time and keeps on getting excuses I just want it back as I have paid for 3 months now for something I don't have anymore. Pls which legal steps can I take to ensure that I get my tablet back PRE number is 166023