Cellphone contract

I returned an iPhone 6s to Vodacom for repairs in 2020 before lockdown, I was informed that due to Covid i cannot be replaced with the same phone ,instead i was told to pay R2000.00 to get another phone,i refused and said i rather wait until i get the same phone .When i did my enquiries every month still no luck until recently i was told that i cannot be assisted because i did not use the sim card for a long time hence the sim card its in the possession of the the service provider. The problem is, I will be due for upgrade what's gonna happen because every month Vodacom debuts from my account but I am without a phone for a year now.