Formal Complaint Regarding Vodacom’s ************ Business Practise

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding my contract with Vodacom and to warn other potential customers of Vodacom’s business practice on new contracts. In November 2025 I signed a 24-month SIM-only contract as advertised at R449 per month, which contract has a clause in it that Vodacom can increase the monthly rate, which I accepted given the expectation that these increases would be on a yearly basis and in line with inflation. Two months later I noted a higher monthly rate of R485.59 per month, an increase of 8.15%. I have the following issues with this: 1. I received no notification and the reason/motivation for this increase. 2. An increase on a 24-month contract after only two months is ***** and is not in line with my commitment to the contract and expectation for a yearly increase at circa inflation. 3. The magnitude of the increase insofar that it is more than double the inflation rate. 4. At the time of writing Vodacom is still offering on their website the same contract at R449 per month. I requested Vodacom to review this increase given the above, but this request was denied insofar that they claim that they cannot change it. They also indicated that the current R449 rate is for new customers. I then requested to cancel my current contract and to sign a new contract at R449 per month, but they said I will still be liable for the current (November) contract. I am deeply dissatisfied with this open chequebook business practice of Vodacom and the lack of resolution to my problem. To date I have: 1. Visited their branch at Somerset Mall (12/03/2026) to find out why the increase, only to be told that they can increase the rate given the clause in my contract. 2. I called Customer Care (17/03/2026), explained my problem/complaint when the consultant told me she cannot change this, and after further discussions and some waiting came back and offered a lower package at a lower rate, completely not understanding my ethical problem! I asked to speak to her manager. Explained my problem/complaint and stated that Vodacom’s business practise is ********* given the above. She undertook to discuss internally and will call me back. Note: My request for a reference number was ignored twice. 3. I received an SMS stating that they will call me back. 4. I received a call on 18 March from the same consultant only to tell me that they cannot change the increase and again offered me a smaller package at a lower rate, still not understanding my ethical problem and that I don’t want I smaller package! Is this how Vodacom does business by advertising an attractive contract (stating that it is based on a 24-month contract, but no mention of any increases) and once signed they can increase the monthly rate at any time and at any rate on a contract you as a customer cannot get out of? This is a totally unacceptable!