Bring Back My Phone Number

When Did You Guys Change Your Policy When It Comes To A Phone Not Being In Use For A Certain Period? I Left The Country Around January And Didnt Take My Phone With Me, I Got Back Last Week And My Sim Card Was Not Working, When I Bought A New Sim Card And Attempted To Do A Sim Swap, They Said My Number Has Been Recycled, Mind ou The Last Time I Checked Vodacom Used To Recycle A Number Which Was Not Used After 6/7 Months. May I Please Have My Phone Number Back Please