Pathetic vodacom

So my dad took out a contract for me years ago... So I've had this vodacom number my whole life, he is now deceased and I've done all the necessary requirements from vodacom in order to change my number to prepaid but they want R3000 upfront and I do not have that kind of money, they have now suspended my service... So I'm left without a number, I wanted to know what other options do I have but thr service is absolutely pathetic when I call the call centre they tell me to email *** and thn when I do that they don't respond to my emails, so now I am basically forced to change my number which is a huge inconvenience for me because now I have to change it with my bank and multiple other services I use, completely pathetic... Don't use vodacom!