Two Decades Later, Vodacom And Makate Settle ‘Please Call Me’ Battle Out Of Court

After nearly two decades of legal wrangling, telecommunications giant Vodacom and Nkosana Makate have reached an out-of-court settlement over compensation for the revolutionary ‘Please Call Me’ (PCM) service.

Makate and Vodacom were scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this month. However, sources confirmed that the parties agreed to settle earlier this week, bringing an end to one of South Africa’s longest-running corporate disputes.

Vodacom, Makate Battle Over Compensation

Makate, the creator of PCM, had previously rejected a R47-million compensation offer in 2019, arguing that he should be remunerated as if he had an 18-year contract with Vodacom. The telecommunications company, however, contended that any contract in 2001 would never have exceeded five years.

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Vodacom has used the PCM service since January 2001 and maintained that Makate’s compensation should be calculated accordingly. The disagreement over the length of a hypothetical contract fueled nearly two decades of legal battles.

Finality for Both Parties

A Vodacom spokesperson confirmed the resolution, saying: “The matter has been settled by the parties. Both parties are glad that finality has been reached in this regard.”

The settlement marks the end of a prolonged dispute that has been closely followed by the public and legal community alike, bringing closure to a case that highlighted intellectual property rights and corporate accountability in South Africa.

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