Telkom 7 day returns policy is a lie

I upgraded my cellphone contract to a Samsung S20 note, in store on the 24th September 2020. The phone is defective and the screen does not work, with the stylus on the right half of the screen remaining blank. This morning, 1 October 2020....the 7th day from purchase, I returned the phone and was told that,

1. I am one day out of the 7 day returns policy because they count the first day as the purchase day. Therefore, in technical legal speak....they actually have a 6 day policy and not a 7 day one. 2. They don't replace phones. They will have to send it in to be fixed....note...it was purchased with the defect.... 3. Their IT system won't allow them to deviate from their policy. 4. No, their regional manager is not contactable, and 5. If you try to Google any senior managers number, it doesn't exist.

In other words, you are completely at the mercy of their policy, despite that they are skirting the Consumer Protection Act....and their is NOTHING you can do about it.

Phone the consumer hotline, and you are referred to a national consumer hotline which is intended for public organisations and govermental departments. ...and we all know how government complaint processes are handled.

I am at a complete loss how to escalate this and so angry at the lack of justice or integrity that has become common place.