Vodacom stole our number

Vodacom just recycled my number while it was in use 2 days ago I was still receiving calls on it now it does not exist?? We live in a dangerous area on a farm 85kms from the nearest town and they have cut us off??? Everything important in our lives is connected to that cell number so we are in the dark - no banking no security no nothing and they just don't want to help us resolve this - this cell number is literally our only lifeline . But seems selling it to someone else is more important. For more than 10 years this has been out lifeline and business and they can just take it???