Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate challenges R13 million legal bill
Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate challenges R13 million legal bill after the Constitutional Court ruling ordered him to pay Vodacom’s legal costs. The long-running Vodacom legal battle has entered a new phase as Makate, the man behind the famous Please Call Me case, continues his decades-long pursuit for fair compensation.
Nkosana Makate’s latest legal setback
Nkosana Makate, a former trainee accountant at Vodacom, has spent nearly two decades fighting for recognition and payment for his revolutionary idea — the Please Call Me service. His most recent challenge came when the Constitutional Court handed down a ruling in August 2025 ordering him to cover Vodacom’s legal expenses, which amount to almost R13 million for a single day of court arguments.
This ruling followed Vodacom’s successful appeal against a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment that had previously ordered the company to pay Makate between 5% and 7.5% of total revenue generated by Please Call Me since its 2001 launch.
Makate has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the costs order, arguing that the decision is unjust and that he intends to challenge it.
“I do not agree with the awarding of costs in favour of Vodacom,” Makate said. “During the same Constitutional Court process, I had to defend two Amicus Curiae applications from Vodafone and Yebo Yethu, both of which were dismissed, yet I was not awarded costs.”
The Constitutional Court ruling and Vodacom’s victory
The latest Constitutional Court ruling came after Vodacom filed for leave to appeal the SCA’s earlier decision, which had dramatically increased Makate’s potential payout from R47 million to as much as R63 billion. The SCA had ruled that Vodacom must pay Makate a share of the revenue from the Please Call Me service, but Vodacom argued that the court overstepped its jurisdiction.
Outgoing Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, delivering his final judgment from the bench, sided with Vodacom. He described the prolonged case as “an unending litigation,” noting that the matter had already been decided in 2016 when Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub determined a compensation amount of R47 million following the Constitutional Court’s initial guidance.
Madlanga’s ruling reinstated Vodacom’s position and ordered Makate to bear the costs of three counsel, citing the complexity, novelty, and financial magnitude of the case.
“Vodacom asked for the costs of three counsel. Given the size of the record and the issues at stake, I find this to be a fair and just request,” Madlanga said.
He also noted that Makate’s own legal team included six advocates, three of whom were senior counsel, which further justified the costs order.
How the Please Call Me case began
The Please Call Me case is one of the most high-profile Vodacom legal battles in South African corporate history. It began in 2000, when Nkosana Makate, then a trainee accountant at Vodacom, proposed a service that would allow mobile users to send free “call me back” messages — an idea that became a cultural and commercial success.
However, after the service launched, former Vodacom CEO Alan Knott-Craig claimed credit for the idea in his autobiography Second Is Nothing. This prompted Makate to take legal action in 2008, seeking recognition and fair compensation.
Over the years, the case has moved through several courts — from the High Court to the Supreme Court of Appeal, and ultimately to the Constitutional Court, where Makate was first recognised as the rightful inventor of Please Call Me in 2016. That ruling required Vodacom to negotiate reasonable compensation with Makate.
Despite this, the two parties have remained deadlocked for years.
Billions at stake in the Vodacom legal battle
At the heart of the Vodacom legal battle lies a staggering financial dispute. Estimates of the compensation owed to Makate vary widely — from R186 million, according to a minority judgment, to between R29 billion and R63 billion, according to the majority in the SCA ruling.
Makate’s legal representatives told the Constitutional Court that their client was willing to settle for R9.4 billion, a fraction of the potential total but still a significant amount.
Vodacom, however, maintains that its R47 million offer was fair and consistent with the 2016 Constitutional Court ruling, arguing that the SCA had exceeded its authority by recalculating the payment formula.
The recent Constitutional Court ruling in Vodacom’s favour effectively resets the legal playing field, sending the matter back to the SCA for further consideration while imposing a heavy financial burden on Makate.
Public reaction and support for Nkosana Makate
The Please Call Me case has attracted widespread public sympathy for Nkosana Makate, who is seen by many South Africans as a symbol of innovation and perseverance. Social media platforms erupted following the announcement of the R13 million legal bill, with users questioning the fairness of the ruling and expressing frustration over how long the case has dragged on.
Consumer rights advocates and legal commentators have pointed out that the case underscores broader issues of corporate accountability, intellectual property protection, and employee innovation rights in South Africa.
Despite the mounting legal and financial pressure, Makate remains resolute. His determination to challenge both the compensation and the costs order suggests that the Please Call Me case is far from over.
The bigger picture: Legal precedent and corporate ethics
Beyond Makate’s personal fight, the Vodacom legal battle raises important questions about how South African companies handle innovation from employees and interns. The case may set a precedent for how future intellectual property disputes are resolved within corporations.
If Makate ultimately wins a significant payout, it could empower other inventors and innovators to demand fair treatment and recognition for their ideas. Conversely, Vodacom’s legal victory could strengthen corporate protections against claims arising from informal internal suggestions.
The Constitutional Court ruling also highlights the role of cost orders in deterring excessive litigation. Legal experts note that the R13 million bill serves as a reminder of how financially draining extended court battles can be — even for those with valid claims.
Conclusion
The Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate challenges R13 million legal bill not just for himself but for the principle of justice in South Africa’s innovation landscape. His battle with Vodacom, now nearly two decades long, embodies the tension between individual creativity and corporate power.
As the Vodacom legal battle returns to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the outcome could reshape how South Africa views intellectual property and innovation rights. Whether Nkosana Makate ultimately receives the compensation he believes he deserves, his persistence continues to inspire a nation that values fairness, ingenuity, and resilience.
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