Aggressive marketing

I recently got a new Vodacom number. Never had issues like this with my old Vodacom number. Since then I have been spammed with marketing smses.

My specific concern was the following sms which I have received 9 times in the last month: "Your anytime network balance has run out. For balances or to buy bundles dial *135# or visit the My Vodacom App", I never bought any product that relates to this option. When calling the customer care service they informed me that this is actually a marketing sms. This is misleading.

Vodacom's customer care consultants escalated my request to opt out of the marketing smses. This is a right I have in terms of the POPI Act. They were told that I may opt out but then I lose all smses from Vodacom including when they let me know if my data is low etc.

Being told that services will be taken away from me because I am exercising my right has left a bad taste in my mouth.

If this problem is not solved in 10 working days where I can opt out of marketing from Vodacom without losing services, then I will leave Vodacom and ask my family to do the same.