New contract, but NOT a new nr - recycled numbers.......

Can Vodacom please explain to how they work? When you open a NEW contract, they deliver the phone with a brand new simcard. You activate the phone, that sim takes a bit of time to activate - no problem with that. So then, you do all you need to do and then you download WA. In that lies the problem..... This nr belongs to someone else..... When you phone the nr, it works, when you download wa, then you get all the other person's wa and if you do a wa call - you get to him - he says it's been he's nr for quit some time..... So you phone Vodacom - They tell you that all the nr's are recycled.... you need to get a new nr - and get this........... - you have to pay for it? - HOW DOES THIS WORK??? - this is unacceptable!! - You take out a new contract to get a new phone and nr and then this is what you get? - I do NOT believe that this is correct. Can someone from Vodacom please advise? - There is NO way that a client have to pay for a new nr if it's a new contract. Thanks