Number deleted and account emptied

After 25 years with Vodacom, my number was deleted during a 4-months overseas trip. This despite activating roaming and regularly sending SMS to the 082 488... number to keep it active. The Vodacom shop at the local mall can do nothing, except sell a new sim-card with a new number. And of course my account is no longer accessible because the OTP cannot be received. Approx. R200 ****** by Vodacom? ...and no replies to my e-mails sent to ***