Vodacom number deleted

I am trying to resolve an issue with my husbands cellphone number that was deleted, due to not being able to fulfill his contractual obligations due to financial circumstances. We have contacted customer care who is not very helpful in trying to sort it out. A ridiculous payment arrangement was made over 12 months, with the only option to accept this arrangement or be handed over to the attorneys and be listed on ITC. He had this cellphone no for about 25 years.