Vodacom Number deleted and no one can assist

I need to retrieve an old number. Long story short, I defaulted on a vodacom contract, number was deleted, I was handed over to a debt collection agency, the account was settled. Vodacom tells me that the number has been deleted - and it's exactly 6 months - thereafter it will be recycled and I cannot retrieve that number. <br> <br> What I need specifically is a Number swap - and number changed to a prepaid number. Vodacom contracts, vodashop and legal all tell me that the number is deleted and will be recycled. However if I dial the number, the voice says 'the number does not exist' which leads me to believe that the number is not in use. <br> <br> Furthermore, the call centre agents send me to do the swim swap at a vodastore, when I get to the store the agent doesn't know anything and we end up calling again the same call centre that referred me to the vodastore.<br> So why can no one assist in getting back my old number? Why would Vodacom rather want to recycle that number and give it to someone else when the easiest option is to give it back to me?!<br>