Bells HardingstoneYou are standing at a taxi rank. You need to make an urgent call. You open your phone. R0.00. No airtime. No data. No Wi-Fi. You cannot even send a Please Call Me because you have sent your daily limit.
This is the exact moment Vodacom’s NjeMore service was designed for. It allows you to borrow airtime instantly, use it immediately, and pay it back when you next recharge.
This guide covers everything you need to know about borrowing airtime from Vodacom in 2026. You will learn the USSD codes, how much it costs, how to qualify, how to repay, and what to do if you are declined.
How To Borrow Airtime From Vodacom: Complete Guide
Quick Reference: Vodacom Airtime Borrowing (NjeMore) – 2026
| Action | Code |
|---|---|
| Borrow airtime (NjeMore) | 135 822 |
| Check NjeMore balance | 135 822 3 |
| Repay NjeMore early | 135 822 4 |
| Check eligibility | 135 822 1 |
This table gives you the essential USSD codes for managing Vodacom’s NjeMore airtime advance service.
What Is NjeMore?
NjeMore is Vodacom’s airtime advance service. The name comes from the isiZulu word “nje,” meaning “just like that” or “simple.” It is pronounced “en-jay-more.”
How it works:
– Vodacom lends you airtime.
– You use the airtime immediately for calls, SMS, or data bundles.
– When you next recharge, Vodacom automatically deducts the amount you borrowed plus a small service fee.
– You do not pay interest. The service fee is fixed.
NjeMore is not a loan in the traditional sense. It is not regulated by the National Credit Act. There is no credit check. There is no interest compounding. It is simply an advance against your next recharge.
How Much Airtime Can You Borrow?
Vodacom offers four NjeMore tiers. The amount you qualify for depends on your usage history and recharge frequency.
Telkom NjeMore Airtime Advance (2026)
| Tier | Airtime Advance | Service Fee | Total Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| NjeMore 5 | R5 | R1 | R6 |
| NjeMore 13 | R13 | R2 | R15 |
| NjeMore 25 | R25 | R5 | R30 |
| NjeMore 50 | R50 | R7 | R57 |
Quick Insights
- Lowest cost option: NjeMore 5, ideal for emergency calls or SMS.
- Best mid-range value: NjeMore 25, though the service fee is proportionally higher.
- Largest advance: NjeMore 50, with the highest repayment but still useful for short-term airtime needs.
New users typically qualify only for NjeMore 5. As you recharge consistently and repay on time, Vodacom increases your limit.
Can you choose which tier to borrow?
No. Vodacom determines your maximum eligibility. When you dial the code, the system automatically advances you the highest amount you qualify for. You cannot borrow R5 if you qualify for R25. You must take the full tier or decline.
Method 1: Borrow Via USSD, The Standard Method
Best for: Any phone, zero data required, zero airtime required.
This is the fastest and most reliable method.
Step-by-Step:
1. Open your phone dialler.
2. Dial 135 822.
3. Press call.
4. You will receive a USSD response or SMS informing you:
– You qualify for NjeMore [amount].
– The service fee is [amount].
– Total repayment will be [amount].
5. Reply with 1 to confirm.
6. You will receive confirmation: “You have successfully borrowed R[amount]. Your new balance is R[amount].”
The airtime is loaded instantly. You can now make calls, send SMS, or buy data bundles.
What if you do not qualify?
You will receive: “Sorry, you do not qualify for NjeMore at this time. Please recharge to build your eligibility.”
Method 2: Borrow Via MyVodacom App
Best for: Smartphone users with data or Wi-Fi.
If you have a smartphone and an internet connection, the app provides a graphical interface for borrowing.
Step-by-Step:
1. Open the MyVodacom app.
2. Log in using your credentials or OTP.
3. On the home screen, look for NjeMore or Borrow Airtime.
– Usually located under the balance display or in the Services menu.
4. Tap the NjeMore tile.
5. The app displays your maximum eligible advance.
6. Tap Accept or Borrow Now.
7. Confirm the transaction.
8. Your airtime balance updates immediately.
Pros: Visual confirmation, no USSD menus to navigate.
Cons: Requires data or Wi-Fi. If you have zero balance, you likely have zero data.
Method 3: Borrow Via SMS
Best for: Users who prefer texting over dialling.
Vodacom allows you to request an airtime advance via SMS.
Step-by-Step:
1. Open your SMS / Messages app.
2. Create a new message.
3. In the recipient field, enter 32231.
4. In the message body, type MORE.
5. Press send.
6. You will receive a reply SMS confirming your eligibility and asking you to confirm.
7. Reply with YES.
8. You receive confirmation that the airtime has been loaded.
Note: Standard SMS rates apply if you are out-of-bundle. If you have zero airtime, this method may not work. Use USSD instead.
Who Qualifies For NjeMore?
Vodacom does not publish the exact algorithm, but these are the known requirements:
– You must be a prepaid or Top-Up customer. Contract customers do not need NjeMore; they are billed monthly.
– Your SIM card must be active for at least 61 days.
– You must have recharged at least once in the past 30 days.
– You must not have any outstanding NjeMore debt.
– You must not have exceeded your borrowing limit.
What disqualifies you?
– Brand new SIM cards. You cannot borrow on day one.
– Users who recharge very rarely, for example, once every six months.
– Users who previously borrowed and did not repay. The debt remains until you recharge.
– Users who have been flagged for fraud or SIM swap activity.
How To Repay NjeMore
Automatic Repayment:
This is the default method. When you next recharge your airtime, Vodacom automatically deducts the outstanding amount plus the service fee.
Example:
– You borrowed R13 + R2 fee = R15 owed.
– You buy a R29 airtime voucher.
– Vodacom takes R15 immediately.
– R14 is added to your balance.
You cannot opt out of automatic repayment. If you have an outstanding NjeMore debt, any airtime you load will first go toward repaying Vodacom.
Early Repayment:
You do not need to wait for your next recharge. If you receive airtime from someone else or find cash, you can repay manually.
Step-by-Step:
1. Dial 135 822 4.
2. Press call.
3. Confirm that you want to repay your outstanding balance.
4. The amount is deducted from your current airtime balance.
5. You receive confirmation that your NjeMore account is clear.
Why repay early?
– It frees up your eligibility to borrow again immediately.
– It prevents the automatic deduction from catching you off guard when you recharge.
What Happens If You Do Not Repay?
NjeMore is not a debt collector. Vodacom does not send lawyers. There is no interest.
However:
– You cannot borrow again until the outstanding amount is repaid.
– The debt does not expire. It remains linked to your SIM card indefinitely.
– If you abandon the SIM and buy a new one, the debt does not follow you. But you lose your number.
The only way to clear the debt is to recharge. Even R5 of airtime will be seized immediately to repay the outstanding advance.
NjeMore vs. Airtime Transfer: What Changed?
Older South Africans may remember when you could transfer airtime directly to another person using codes like 121 or 122. Vodacom discontinued airtime transfer in 2022.
NjeMore is not a replacement for airtime transfer. You cannot borrow airtime and send it to a friend. You can only borrow for your own use.
If you need to give airtime to someone else, you must:
– Buy an electronic voucher via your banking app and SMS the PIN.
– Load airtime directly onto their number using 136 [recipient number] [PIN].
NjeMore For Data: Borrowing Data Bundles
Vodacom also allows you to borrow data through NjeMore. This is covered in detail in the How To Buy Data On Vodacom guide, but here is a summary.
Telkom Data Advance Bundles (2026)
| Data Bundle | Advance | Service Fee | Total Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 MB | R5 | R2 | R7 |
| 250 MB | R15 | R3 | R18 |
| 500 MB | R25 | R5 | R30 |
Quick Insights
- The service fee adds a small premium to each advance, making the effective cost slightly higher than the face value.
- Best short-term value: 500 MB bundle, since the service fee is proportionally lower compared to the smaller bundles.
- These advances are useful for emergency top-ups when you’re out of data but need quick access.
To borrow data:
1. Dial 135 822.
2. Select the data option.
3. Confirm.
4. The data is loaded instantly.
Repayment works exactly the same as airtime advances. When you next recharge, the amount plus fee is deducted.
Common Questions, SEO FAQ Section
Can I borrow airtime if I have a zero balance?
Yes. That is the entire purpose of NjeMore. You can borrow with R0.00 in your account.
Can I borrow airtime if I am on contract?
No. Contract customers do not need NjeMore. Your airtime is billed monthly. However, Top-Up customers who choose to pay-as-you-go can borrow.
Can I borrow airtime more than once in a day?
Yes, but only if you repay the first advance first. If you borrow R13, then immediately recharge R30, the debt is repaid. You can then borrow again.
Why did my NjeMore limit decrease?
Vodacom periodically reviews eligibility. If you have not recharged regularly, or if you frequently borrow and repay slowly, your limit may drop. Consistent recharging increases your limit.
Does NjeMore affect my credit record?
No. NjeMore is not a credit agreement. It is not reported to credit bureaus. You cannot be blacklisted for failing to repay, but you also cannot borrow again until you do.
Can I borrow airtime while roaming?
Yes. Dial 135 822 while roaming internationally. Standard roaming rates apply to the USSD request. The airtime advance is loaded into your South African balance.
What is the difference between NjeMore and 136?
136 is the code to load an airtime voucher that you have already paid for. NjeMore is the code to borrow airtime that you will pay for later.
Can I refuse the NjeMore advance?
Yes. When you dial 135 822, the system tells you the amount you qualify for. You can simply hang up or reply with 0 to cancel. No airtime is loaded.
Is there a limit to how much I can owe?
Vodacom does not publish a maximum debt limit. However, if you repeatedly borrow R50 and never repay, your eligibility will be suspended until you clear the balance.
Can I borrow airtime for someone else?
No. NjeMore is linked to your SIM card and your usage history. You cannot borrow on behalf of another number.
How To Build Your NjeMore Limit
If you consistently qualify only for the minimum R5 advance, here is how to increase your limit.
1. Recharge regularly. Even R5 or R12 every week signals to Vodacom that you are an active customer.
2. Repay immediately. If you borrow, try to repay within 24 hours. Early repayment is viewed positively.
3. Use your SIM. Make calls, send SMS, buy data. Inactive SIMs do not qualify.
4. Do not SIM swap frequently. Multiple SIM swaps in a short period flag your account for fraud review and may suspend NjeMore.
What To Do If NjeMore Is Not Working
Problem: You dial 135 822 and receive “Service unavailable.”
– This usually means your SIM is too new. Wait 61 days from activation.
– It may also mean you have an outstanding debt. Check by dialling 135 822 3.
Problem: You qualify but the airtime does not load.
– Network congestion. Wait 5 minutes and try again.
– Your balance may be negative. Vodacom allows negative balances only for NjeMore. If you have an existing negative balance from another service, you must clear it first.
Problem: You recharged but the debt was not deducted.
– The deduction happens immediately when you load airtime via 136 or the app.
– If you received airtime as a gift or via bank transfer, the deduction may take a few minutes.
– Dial 135 822 3 to check if the debt is still outstanding.
Summary: Should You Use NjeMore?
Use NjeMore if:
– You have an emergency call to make.
– You have zero airtime and no way to recharge immediately.
– You know you will recharge within the next few days.
Do not use NjeMore if:
– You have no plan to recharge soon. The debt will sit on your SIM indefinitely.
– You are trying to send airtime to someone else. It is not possible.
– You are already in debt and want to avoid the service fee.
Final Warning: The Service Fee
NjeMore is convenient, but it is not cheap. The service fee represents a 20 percent to 40 percent premium on the borrowed amount.
– R5 advance: R1 fee = 20 percent.
– R13 advance: R2 fee = 15 percent.
– R25 advance: R5 fee = 20 percent.
– R50 advance: R7 fee = 14 percent.
If you borrow R50 every week and repay immediately, you are paying R364 per year in service fees. That is the cost of convenience.
Use NjeMore for emergencies. Do not use it as a regular source of airtime.
Official Vodacom Support: 082 111 or www.vodacom.co.za
—
This guide was last updated for 2026 standards. Vodacom reserves the right to change NjeMore tiers, service fees, and eligibility criteria without notice. Always verify current terms at www.vodacom.co.za.