Keeping my old number

Been a telkom cutomer for 17 years. Tranferred my contract to pay as you go (on the telkom salesperson advice). Took out a new contract trough I store as telkom did not have phones in stock ( on telkom salesperson advice). When I then returned to the store once i received my device. They told me a cannot keep my old number as it is a ported number (from 17 years ago). So i did all they told me to. Now they say eish sorry. Been into store and online for more than 5 hours and visited the sotre for the 8th time. Still no feedback. Just sorry. Waiting for them to get back to me