Unreasonable penalties charged by Vodacom to cancel a contract

I have a WIFI package with Vodacom. My monthly subscription fee is R371.62 and there is 4 months remaining on this contract (24 months).

I have requested early cancellation and was advised that to cancel I must pay an amount of almost R1800.00.

If you calculate the remainder of contract (R371.62 x 4) the amount due to Vodacom, should the contract run its course, is R1486.48.

The amount to cancel the contract is more than the remainder of the contract.

How is this possible and reasonable??

In terms of Regulation 5(3) of the Consumer Protection Act the Supplier cannot charge a consumer a charge that would have the effect of negating the consumer's right to cancel a fixed term consumer agreement as afforded by the CPA. The charge cannot be more of a financial burden than staying out the contract.

The person I spoke to at Vodacom cannot understand that the amount cannot be more and keeps saying that I cannot just cancel prematurely and expect to pay nothing as they are losing.

The amount requested is exorbitant and not reasonable as allowed for in the CPA.

I have requested to speak to her manager, who gave me the same story, and personally I dont think it was her manager and more just her friend sitting next to her.

He then referred me to their legal department but you cannot get through to them if your account is not in arrears.

I just want to pay a reasonable amount to cancel a contract that has only 4 months left.

(PS I phone Cell C to cancel a contract that has 9 more month left and was quoted R1800 to cancel) Just to show the unreasonable penalties added by Vodacom to prevent you from cancelling and to force you to retain the contract.