‘Please Call Me’ Inventor Nkosana Makate Ordered To Pay Vodacom R13 Million In Legal Costs After ConCourt Ruling

The long-standing legal fight between Vodacom and “Please Call Me” inventor Nkosana Makate has taken a costly twist. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that Makate must pay Vodacom’s legal expenses, which reportedly total around R13 million.

This decision follows Vodacom’s successful appeal, where the Constitutional Court overturned a previous ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that had ordered the telecoms giant to pay Makate a share of the service’s revenue.

The compensation dispute will now return to the SCA for a fresh hearing.

Court Cites Case Complexity and High Stakes

The Constitutional Court’s judgment also granted Vodacom the costs of three counsels—an uncommon and significant order. The court justified this by citing the complexity of the case, the extensive legal record, and the “very large amount at stake.”

Makate, who came up with the “Please Call Me” idea in 2000 while employed at Vodacom, has been pursuing fair compensation for years.

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He previously rejected Vodacom’s offer of R47 million, maintaining that he deserves a share of the revenue generated by the service over nearly two decades.

Despite the latest setback, Makate has vowed to continue his legal battle. “He will return to the SCA,” a source close to the matter confirmed, signalling that the fight is far from over.

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