Vodacom secures a court victory, postponing financial compensation to the inventor of the 'Please Call Me' concept.
The legal dispute between Nkosana Makate, a former Vodacom employee, and the telecommunications giant over the "Please Call Me" service continues, with no definitive resolution in sight.
The case, which has been ongoing for over 15 years, has involved lengthy legal battles, with the latest being a technical argument over the South African Constitutional Court's (ConCourt) authority to replace the original High Court ruling. In July 2025, the ConCourt overturned a previous Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment that had awarded Makate compensation estimated between 5% and 7.5% of the revenue from the "Please Call Me" service, potentially amounting to billions of rand.
In February 2024, the SCA agreed with Makate, ordering Vodacom to pay between US$1.5 billion and US$3.5 billion. However, the ConCourt found "fatal shortcomings" in the SCA's handling of the case and sent the matter back to the SCA to be reheard by a different panel of judges, effectively delaying a definitive compensation decision once again.
Vodacom had earlier offered Makate 47 million rand (approximately $2.6 million), which Makate rejected. The previous SCA ruling, now overturned, sought a higher payout based on Makate's proposed revenue-sharing model. Makate remains determined, expressing confidence in eventually securing a fair compensation.
However, the ConCourt also issued a cost order against Makate, requiring him to pay Vodacom's legal fees, which Makate criticized as unfair and potentially deterring similar legal battles against large corporations.
The Constitutional Court ruled that the SCA overstepped its legal authority by replacing the original compensation figure without a formal appeal from Makate. This ambiguity in the court's ruling has turned the case into another round of legal battles.
As of late July and early August 2025, the case is ongoing, with the next steps involving a fresh hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal. A final resolution and compensation amount have yet to be established.
Sources: 1. Reuters (2025-07-31) 2. Sunday World (2025-08-03) 3. SABC News (July 2025) 4. IOL (2025-07-31)
In the ongoing legal battle between Nkosana Makate and Vodacom, the dispute centers around the "Please Call Me" service, a significant aspect of their business finance. Despite the South African Constitutional Court overturning a previous Supreme Court of Appeal judgment awarding Makate compensation, the exact compensation amount remains undetermined, potentially affecting millions in business finance for both parties.
