Vodacom sold my 11-year‑old daughter a “new” SIM, recycled it without warning—and shattered her special moment

Vodacom sold my 11-year‑old daughter a “new” SIM, recycled it without warning—and shattered her special moment

HelloVodacom team and fellow customers,

I’m disappointed and hurt. On 27 June, I bought a SIM card at the Quonce Vodacom store as a well‑deserved reward for my daughter: she’s 11, second in her grade, and earned 90%+ across all subjects. It was a proud moment—until it was ruined.

We activated WhatsApp, believed to be using a brand-new number. Instead, she immediately received messages from old contacts—including an adult man asking to contact her. That’s when I learned the number had been recycled, but we weren’t told at the point of sale.

The worst part? When I shared my concerns, Vodacom told me to “use our mobile app.” No apology. No empathy. Totally tone-deaf.

This isn’t just inconvenience—it’s child safety, trust, and broken promise. Vodacom’s own Customer Code pledges fairness, courtesy, and complaint resolution in 14 working days

. Their Human Rights Policy commits to child online safety

. But their response feels hypocritical.

Our family should not have to take away her phone—the moment she earned deserved to be joyful. Vodacom: keep your promises or own up to your failures.