Vodacom looks to settle out of court with ‘Please Call Me’ inventor

Vodacom is reportedly pushing for an out of court settlement of “R40 billion” with ‘Please Call Me’ inventor, Nkosana Kenneth Makate this week.

NKOSANA KENNETH MAKATE: COMPENSATED?

BusinessTech reports that Vodacom planned to begin talks with Nkosana Makate on Tuesday, 12 March.

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal revealed in February that Makate was entitled for a compensation ranging between R29 billion and R63 billion.

The service provider reveals that the payout would have “devastating consequences” for the mobile network operator, its employees and its investors. The network also filed papers on 26 February to appeal the supreme court decision.

When contacted, Makate revealed to the publication that Vodacom “asked for private talks and I will surely oblige and engage them.”

He also confirmed that talks are planned for Tuesday and added he will file opposing papers in the Constitutional Court.

TimesLIVE reported on Monday, 11 March that Makate says the network is capable of paying amounts due in his claim.

He also says his claim against Vodacom is substantially less than the R40 billion the cellphone giant mentions.

VODACOM DRAGS ‘PLEASE CALL ME’ SAGA

The businessman, Nkosana Makateproposed the Please Call Me idea to Vodacom when he worked in the finance division 20 years ago.

Daily Maverick reported in 2022 that the court rejected the R47 million offer the communications company made to Makate in 2019.

Vodacom Chief Executive Officer, Shameel Joosub calculated the R47 million compensation to Makate at the time.

Joosub revealed at the time that Makate’s methods in determining the revenue generated by Please Call Me since its market launch in 2001 was flawed.

The company was ordered by the Pretoria High Court to offer Makate a new compensation offer for the idea.

Vodacom declined to comment on the matter at the time of publishing the article.