How to Redeem Vodacom Airtime Vouchers

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In short: To load a Vodacom prepaid airtime voucher that has a recharge PIN, dial *136*01*Recharge PIN# from the Vodacom SIM you want to credit. Vodacom’s current USSD guide says the voucher value is then added to that prepaid account. Check the result on *136#.

This South African page is only about redeeming a Vodacom prepaid voucher PIN. It is not a guide to turning airtime into cash, buying a betting voucher, or transferring airtime to someone else. If a voucher was loaded onto the wrong number, see the wrong-recharge recovery page.

The official prepaid voucher code

Vodacom’s USSD guide lists this prepaid recharge code:

*136*01*Recharge PIN#

Replace Recharge PIN with the PIN printed on the voucher. Include the stars and the hash, then press the call button. Vodacom says a popup message or menu appears after you dial a USSD code.

The same guide says prepaid vouchers have a recharge PIN and that the voucher value is added to the prepaid account. It does not publish a fixed PIN length, a load-time guarantee, or a voucher-validity period. Do not treat those older claims as current Vodacom rules.

  1. Keep the voucher where you can read the PIN. If it has a scratch panel, reveal the PIN carefully so the digits stay readable.
  2. Open the phone dialler on the Vodacom prepaid SIM you want to credit.
  3. Dial *136*01*, then the PIN, then #.
  4. Press call and read the on-screen message.
  5. Dial *136# to see the prepaid airtime balance and any bundles shown on that code.

Do not send the PIN to a caller, SMS, WhatsApp contact or social-media page that offers to “load it for you” or asks for vouchers to release a prize.

Other official ways to recharge

Vodacom also describes pinless recharge. If your receipt or till slip has no PIN, do not invent one. Use the recharge option the seller or Vodacom app actually gave you, or open the *135# services menu.

Vodacom’s self-service guide lists VodaPay, My Vodacom online and the TOBi assistant as channels that can recharge airtime. Those pages do not publish a separate voucher-PIN walkthrough, so use the in-app recharge option you are shown rather than a copied menu path from an old article.

If you forget the short codes, Vodacom’s USSD guide says *135# opens the services menu, including other prepaid options.

If the PIN does not load

Vodacom’s current public USSD page does not list every error message. Common practical checks are:

  • You are dialling from a Vodacom prepaid SIM, not another network.
  • The PIN is complete and in the order printed on the voucher.
  • The voucher has not already been used.
  • You used a PIN voucher. A pinless recharge will not work on *136*01*Recharge PIN#.

Keep the till slip. Do not post the PIN online. Vodacom’s contact page says you can call customer care free on 082 135 from a Vodacom phone, or +27 82 135 from abroad. Its self-service guide also lists TOBi on WhatsApp 082 009 8624 and the USSD route *135*26843#. Use those official channels rather than a shop assistant who asks to photograph the unused PIN.

Keep the PIN private

Vodacom’s fraud guidance says not to share login details, passwords or PINs, and not to rely on a caller ID that looks official. Its contact FAQ says not to reply to suspicious messages that ask for personal details. Report fraud through the current Vodacom contact or fraud-help pages.

A competition, “free airtime” code or urgent VodaBucks message that asks you to buy vouchers and hand over the PINs is not a recharge instruction. Load a voucher you bought for your own prepaid SIM, then stop.

What this page does not cover

  • Airtime-to-cash, betting vouchers or converting airtime into another brand of voucher.
  • Airtime Advance, airtime transfer or data-bundle purchase, except to note that *135# is Vodacom’s general services menu.
  • A current list of shops, voucher denominations or a claim that every unused voucher lasts forever. Vodacom’s current USSD, uChoose and self-service pages do not publish those details.

Frequently asked questions

What code loads a Vodacom airtime voucher?

For a prepaid voucher with a recharge PIN, Vodacom lists *136*01*Recharge PIN#.

How do I check that the airtime loaded?

Vodacom lists *136# as the prepaid balance inquiry. It shows the airtime balance and any bundles on that screen.

Do all Vodacom vouchers have a PIN?

No. Vodacom also describes pinless recharge. Use *136*01*Recharge PIN# only when you have a recharge PIN.

What if the PIN is rejected?

Check the network, the PIN and whether the voucher is unused. Then use Vodacom’s current customer-care routes. Do not send the PIN to a third party.

Can I turn this voucher into cash?

This page only covers loading the voucher onto a Vodacom prepaid account. Cash conversion is a different task.

Sources

  • Vodacom, “The most useful USSD codes for Vodacom users”, accessed 24 August 2026. now.vodacom.co.za/do-it-yourself/the-most-useful-ussd-codes-for-vodacom-users/
  • Vodacom, “What is Vodacom uChoose?”, PIN/PINLESS voucher note, accessed 24 August 2026. now.vodacom.co.za/do-it-yourself/what-is-vodacom-uchoose/
  • Vodacom, “Helping you to help yourself” self-service guide, accessed 24 August 2026. now.vodacom.co.za/do-it-yourself/helping-you-to-help-yourself/
  • Vodacom, Customer Care / Contact us, accessed 24 August 2026. www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/help/contact-us
  • Vodacom, Fraud, scams and hoaxes, accessed 24 August 2026. www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/help/fraud-scams-and-hoaxes

This page gives general product information. Codes, apps and contact routes can change. Use Vodacom’s current pages or on-screen menus before you act.

See all airtime and voucher guides.

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