Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case — an ending to one of South Africa’s longest-running legal battles involving innovation, intellectual property and corporate responsibility. After more than 18 years of disputes between Vodacom and former employee Nkosana Kenneth Makate, both parties confirmed that a financial settlement has finally been reached. While the amount remains undisclosed, the resolution marks a historic moment in South African legal and entrepreneurial history — and a powerful lesson about ideas, ownership and persistence.
How the Please Call Me Idea Started
In 2000, Makate, then a trainee accountant at Vodacom, pitched an idea that would allow users without airtime to send a free text asking someone to call them back. Vodacom launched “Please Call Me” shortly after. The service exploded across South Africa and Africa, reshaping mobile communication — especially in low-income communities.
But while the product changed the industry, Makate claimed he never received compensation for his intellectual contribution. This dispute led to what would become a nearly two-decade legal journey.
Legal Fight: From High Court to Constitutional Court
The legal fight formally began in 2008 when Makate took Vodacom to court. In 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled in his favour, declaring that Vodacom was legally bound to compensate him fairly.
Years of negotiations followed, but no agreement was reached. Vodacom offered around R47 million; Makate rejected it, estimating his rightful compensation was between R29 billion and R63 billion.
Appeals, counter-appeals and court delays continued until 2025, when the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Vodacom must pay Makate between 5% and 7.5% of the revenue generated from Please Call Me. Vodacom attempted to challenge this in the Constitutional Court but faced a harsh judgment criticising the legal process as a “failure of justice”.
Finally, in November 2025, Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case out of court — closing a chapter that lasted nearly 18 years.
What Does This Settlement Mean for Vodacom?
For Vodacom, ending this case protects its financial reputation and restores investor confidence. The company confirmed that settlement costs have already been accounted for in its financial statements for the six months ending September 2025.
More importantly, settling avoids the risk of paying billions based on revenue calculations. It also prevents further negative brand publicity and shareholder uncertainty.
What This Means for Inventors and Corporate South Africa
The Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case is bigger than one man receiving compensation. It sends a clear message across the business landscape:
- Ideas have value — even inside a company. Employees are not just workers; they can be innovators.
- Contracts matter — even verbal ones. Courts affirmed that informal agreements can be legally binding.
- Innovation should be rewarded, not exploited. This case places pressure on companies to treat internal innovation with transparency and fairness.
- Perseverance is profitable. Makate fought almost two decades, proving determination can rewrite history.
Impact on Entrepreneurs and Startups
Entrepreneurs can draw powerful lessons from the Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case:
- Protect your ideas early. Whether you’re a startup founder or employee, always document your intellectual contributions. Emails, memos and agreements matter.
- Know your rights. South African law now has stronger precedence to protect innovators and idea creators.
- A simple idea can change an industry. “Please Call Me” wasn’t a complex product — but it solved a real-world problem.
- Partnerships need clarity. If you’re working with corporates or investors, ensure formal agreements cover profit-sharing, intellectual rights and royalties.
Why This Case Matters to Ordinary South Africans
Beyond business and law, this case matters because:
- Please Call Me saved lives — used in emergencies where people had no airtime.
- It became a symbol of economic inclusion, allowing millions to communicate without money.
- It reveals the power of fair compensation, especially in a country still healing from inequality.
What Happens Next?
Although Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case, several things remain unclear:
- The exact settlement amount is confidential.
- It’s unknown whether Vodacom will publicly acknowledge Makate as the creator.
- This settlement could influence future policies on corporate innovation, employee rights and intellectual property.
Makate now joins a short list of Africans who monetised ideas at a corporate level — but his journey shows how difficult it can be for ordinary employees to receive fair rewards for innovation inside large institutions.
Conclusion
Vodacom settles Please Call Me Case after 18 years of courtroom battles, media attention and national debate. The settlement ends one of South Africa’s most iconic intellectual property disputes — but its legacy stretches far beyond the payout. This story is not only about a legal victory. It is about a simple idea that changed how a nation communicates, a corporate giant challenged by its own employee, and the power of perseverance.
Entrepreneurs, businesses and innovators across South Africa will remember this case as a turning point — a reminder that ideas matter, fairness matters and that innovation deserves recognition.