Telkom Mobile Cancelled my number (instead of Porting it) and now waiting forever to reinstate it

I emailed Telkom Mobile a request to Port my number. Instead, Telkom instantly cancelled the number! They deleted my number of 20 years standing - gone, no more number to port!!!

I have a case ref number ********** 4 to reinstate the number but nothing is happening at all...... In the meantime I cannot do my internet banking, and customers cannot reach me.

I have called the call centre and asked for a Team Leader to escalate, and not once has anyone got back tome. they put me on hold and no one ever answers the line after that.

I find this is intensely frustrating, and I wish I had never ported my number to telkom in the first place.