APPLE, VODACOM and MTN - HELP ME - this is RIDICULOUS!!!!

I purchased an iPhone 7 Plus in May 2019 (cash) from MTN Eastgate. I am a Vodacom contracts customer for over 15 years. For as long as I can remebr I have used Apple products.

I moved to Cape Town in September 2019. Around November 2019, my phone started to act up, whereby I was receiving incoming calls as missed calls. People would phone me and it would immediately go to an engaged noise. On my side, I would see a miss call but I would never have had my phone ring. This was from both land lines and cell phone numbers calling me.

In January 2020, I decided I could not take this issue anymore, and booked my phone into the Canal Walk Vodacom Repairs centre. The problem has resulted in my phone bills being around R1500 per month as each call I do not get a chance to answer, I have to CALL BACK. The business I am in requires that I am available on my cellphone and as you can imagine, this has set me back both financially and personally. (I am on a SIM only contract, remember, I bought the phone CASH).

I book the phone in on the 27th Jan 2020. I then get an sms about a week later to say my phone has gone into the Vodacom Advanced Repair Centre (ARC) in JHB for further assessment because it could not be fixed at canal walk.

A week after this, I decide to do a courtesy call, so I go ahead and call the Vodacom Repairs department, I am told to give my repairs job number, which is ***x and the very professional lady tells me that she can see on her side that the phone is still at Canal walk and not in JHB. In shock, I cant believe that a phone I had left a week ago at the mall is STILL there. She tells me that the phone is waiting to be picked up by Dawn Wing.

After I get off phone, I drive straight through to Canal Walk. I get there and talk to another friendly lady and explain that I cannot have my phone sitting in a box waiting to go to JHB, she asks for my job number and I give to her. She calls me over to her side of the table to show me that IT IS IN JHB and had been for 5 days with a guy at ARC names Willie. I tell her, how could the info she is showing me versus what Vodacom REPAIRS lady had told me be so DIFFERENT?! she shrugs.

A week later... 18 FEB 2020I call Vodacom Canal walk, to ask about my phone. They say... Ïts just arrived back from JHB today, with a note on it, there was no issues with your phone"... I drive through to canal walk on the 18th Feb and go to collect and I ask them to DOUBLE TRIPPE check that its okay, they say they have tested it and will test again INFRONT of me. They do that and yes it works. I can receive calls and answer them.

On the 19th FEB 2020, I am back at square ONE. Received about 10 business calls today, all dropped before I can answer and all my business contacts asking me why my phone is constantly engaged and can I call them back. I called Canal Walk Vodacom, they don't know how to help me. Further they have indicated that on the system it shows that Warranty ended in FEB 2020.

I bought the phone in May 2019 (have proof) and therefore I should still be covered by warranty?

I don't know what to do!?

I am a loyal Vodacom customer for 15 years I am a loyal Apple customer for over 10 years I bought a phone cash from MTN (who even does that?)

PLEASE HELP ME. You are crippling me financially and professionally.