Blacklisted Phone

I bought a cellphone from someone a year ago (October 2017). The phone was still sealed because it was her upgrade phone that she didn't want to use. At the time she was a Manager at a Vodacom Shop. Last week Tuesday (4 September 2018) the phone got blacklisted. After lots of searching I got hold of her and explained to her what happened. I was told that she was put on Debt Review because she can't afford all her debt anymore. I contacted Vodacom Blacklisting Department and explained to them exactly what the problem is. I even send them a Affidavit from the lady I bought the phone from where she say that she sold the phone to me last year and that I'm the owner of the phone. I also attached copies of our ID's to prove that there is nothing ******* about this and that it is not a ****** device. After all the trouble I went through this past week and a half I just got told that they can't do anything about this and they can't Unblacklist the phone.

I cant do anything about it either, because I can't sue her for money that she doesn't have. So I'm currently sitting with a expensive phone that I can't use. She is the one who should be punished, not me. I did nothing wrong. If I bought the phone from someone on the street then I know it's my own stupidity, but because she was working at Vodacom and I went to the Shop to buy it from her, I didn't see anything wrong about it. Is there anyone that can help me get this phone Unblacklisted PLEASE. I can't afford to buy another phone now.

Thanks for you time.