Telkom dictators

I have had the same cell phone number since the 90's. I have been sick so I decided to leave it off. Telkom or 8ta decides to s**** my number. I contacted them, they said that would recover my number. This never happen. I was with vodacom for years. When I decided to move 8ta it was due to the better rates. Now I must sit for hours just to recover my number. I can't use my phone. I want my original number back. I will not look for another number