The mighty Vodacom does it wants

In February 2018 I entered into a two-year contract with Vodacom for a Smart Top Up M package ate R420.87 per month. The contract would give me airtime, smss and data. I did not include a new phone in the contract.

I got billed in terms of the contract for February, March and April 2018 but in May 2018 and onwards the amount increased by R40.00. No explanation or notice to such increase was given nor any reasons therefor.

When I contacted the customer billing section of Vodacom I was told that the contract I have with Vodacom makes provision that Vodacom can at will, and unilaterally, change the tariffs of its services. I find that in stark contrast with the general contract law that such a provision is contained in a contract and not make such know to the customer when the contract is entered into. What is the use of a contract in anyway if the provisions relating to costs to the customer is so volatile. Then the contract is not worth the paper is is written on. I expected to pay a certain amount for a service for the duration of the contract - not have the cost increases thrown on me as customer after a mere three months after the contract was entered into. What I would be willing to accept is that a contract makes a provision for a price increase say after one year and even then I would expect such increase to be specifically included in the contract (either as an amount of a percentage). But the fact that Vodacom can willy-nilly increase its pricing structure smacks of the typical high-handedness of a giant company bullying a small private person. And then Vodacom's persons on the phone (one Komotso and one Ismael) came through very arrogantly - relying on the contract provision in a rather untouched and abrupt manner.