Vodacom does not care!

I have had a pay as you go vodacom number (Rica'ed) which has been maintained with a positive balance. This number is used for specific contacts, my WhatsApp and even for banking OTP's. Vodacom without notice recycled my number and I can no longer access it. When a new person gets allocated my number, they have access to all my private information!? What about the balance on my airtime? Does Vodacom keep it for bonuses?

How can this be ethical or even legal? Don't even try talking to someone at Vodacom that can give you a human response...