Vodacom Repairs is pathetic

My Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra has been sent in 6 times for repairs, just to come back worse every time.

Twice now, Vodacom has sent me notification to pay x amount to repair the phone after it was still under warranty. I haven't been able to use my device since August 2019 (after it has been in for repairs in MAY 2019 already). I've been paying my account on time each month, no replacement phone, no loaner phone offered, and I need to keep paying.

After the device went in in August, Vodacom Nelspruit refused to work on the phone because Vodacom Witbank damaged the device. They issued me an invoice which I refused to pay as the device was under it's extended warranty after the repairs done in May. I sent it back to Witbank repair centre another 3 times, after which I sent it to the Advanced Repair Centre in Johannesburg on 18/10/2019. The phone came back working fine, until 25/12/2019 when it suddenly just stopped working. It wouldn't charge, wouldn't turn on or off, none of the side buttons worked and the speaker was once again not working.

Now after the 6th time of submitting my device for repairs, Vodacom sends me an invoice that the battery needs replacing. I will not pay this as I've mentioned, I'm paying for a device I cannot use. Why was the device not replaced on the 3rd attempt of repairs? Why wasn't I offered a loaner phone?

Vodacom is pathethic, and no one takes responsibility as it is a blame shifting game between Vodacom branches and Customer Service.

If I could subtract stars from the rating, or give a zero rating, I would.