Vodacom's main self-service menu is *135#. Its published instructions also list *136# for balances, *135*501# for an own-number check and *135*082# for advance offers. Use the full reference below to distinguish information requests from purchases and account changes.
Choose the Vodacom SIM if the phone has two lines. A number that started with an associated prefix may have ported, and a virtual operator using host infrastructure can have different retail menus. This guide is for Vodacom's own documented service routes.
Vodacom code reference
Documents checked 1 November 2026. The linked balance/own-number article is an older operator guide; no live handset test is claimed. Read the source note and the current menu before confirming an action.
| Network and task | Code or official route | Before using it | Source check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom: Airtime/data balance | *136# | Read the returned balances and their wallet labels. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: Bundles and account menu | *135# | Select the intended bundle; purchases spend airtime or another payment method. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: Own mobile number | *135*501# | Documented in the operator’s tablet-SIM guide; use the intended SIM. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: Airtime/data advance | *135*082# | Eligibility, fees and repayment apply; review the offered amount before accepting. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: Airtime transfer | VodaPay / My Vodacom | Use the documented transfer route. Check recipient, amount and applicable restrictions. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: Recurring bundle subscriptions | *135*997# | The source documents recurring data-bundle management. Ask support separately about third-party content charges and refund disputes. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
| Vodacom: PUK / registration assistance | Official account or support | Use My Vodacom for PUK and the provider’s RICA support for registration. No universal RICA-status code is asserted here. | Operator source Document checked 1 November 2026 |
Check the balance you actually need
Run the balance request and record the wallet names as well as their values. Airtime and data are different balances, and a promotional allowance can have restrictions. If you are checking whether a newly purchased bundle loaded, compare its exact description and validity with the provider's displayed wallet.
For an already linked service, use the official account or VodaPay route described by Vodacom self-service. A linked account is useful when a router cannot run the same dialler command as a phone. If app registration asks for an unknown number, use the own-number guide first.
Buy the right bundle without confusing a menu with a quote
Open the bundle menu and compare the allowance, validity, intended application and payment source. An offer visible to one line is not automatically available to every customer. A once-off purchase and a recurring subscription can have different consequences, so read the confirmation rather than relying on a remembered option number.
The SIMcloud data-price article compares products in its live catalogue. It is a separate sales channel from Vodacom's personalised menu. Match the actual product before deciding which suits the recipient.
Advance and transfer are different tasks
An advance gives eligible customers repayable value. The Airtime Advance terms govern access and recovery. Read the offered service fee and repayment before accepting. If the next recharge buys less immediately usable airtime, check whether an advance was recovered before assuming the recharge failed.
A transfer sends eligible value to another customer under transfer rules. Vodacom's sharing guide distinguishes airtime, data transfer and family sharing. Use the provider's current menu or authenticated app, confirm the recipient and read restrictions on promotional value. Do not enter a partially remembered direct transfer string.
Manage recurring services and disputed charges
For recurring data bundles, the documented subscription route is *135*997#. Review the listed service before cancelling and keep the confirmation. A recurring bundle, third-party content service and marketing permission are different settings. If a charge is disputed, ask separately for the service provider, amount, dates and complaint reference.
Blocking an SMS sender does not prove that billing stopped. Read the subscription and SMS complaint guide if provider assistance or WASPA escalation is needed. Do not approve an unfamiliar service while looking for the cancellation option.
PUK, RICA and failed commands
Retrieve a PUK through the authenticated account or provider assistance. Do not guess digits. For registration details, use the RICA record guide; a network lookup and an active USSD menu do not reveal the registered subscriber.
If a command fails, check the line, signal and service type, then use the linked official support route. Record the error and what you were trying to do. Avoid trying unrelated codes, especially ones affecting forwarding, security or tariff settings.
Vodacom questions
Is *135# free airtime?
No. It is a menu. Products selected within it can cost money, and an advance is repayable.
Can I transfer promotional airtime?
Eligibility depends on the product and current transfer terms. Check the wallet and final screen rather than treating every balance as transferable cash airtime.
Where are the other network codes?
Use the cross-network finder and select the actual retail provider.