{"id":19559,"date":"2025-07-31T12:09:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T10:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=19559"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:08:15","slug":"vodacom-wins-concourt-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/vodacom-wins-concourt-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Vodacom Wins ConCourt Appeal in \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 Case Against Nkosana Makate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#concourt-overturns-scas-previous-ruling\" data-level=\"2\">ConCourt Overturns SCA\u2019s Previous Ruling<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-origins-of-please-call-me-service\" data-level=\"2\">The Origins of \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 Service<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#legal-battle-spanning-nearly-two-decades\" data-level=\"2\">Legal Battle Spanning Nearly Two Decades<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#disputed-compensation-figures-highlighted\" data-level=\"2\">Disputed Compensation Figures Highlighted<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#acting-deputy-chief-justice-madlangas-remarks\" data-level=\"2\">Acting Deputy Chief Justice Madlanga\u2019s Remarks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#vodacoms-arguments-on-jurisdiction-and-compensatio\" data-level=\"2\">Vodacom\u2019s Arguments on Jurisdiction and Compensation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-importance-of-clear-ip-agreements-in-employmen\" data-level=\"2\">The Importance of Clear IP Agreements in Employment<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#public-and-industry-reactions-to-the-verdict\" data-level=\"2\">Public and Industry Reactions to the Verdict<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-lies-ahead-for-vodacom-and-makate\" data-level=\"2\">What Lies Ahead for Vodacom and Makate<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After nearly two decades of legal battles, the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruled in favour of Vodacom on 31 July 2025, sending the long-standing dispute with Nkosana Makate back to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). This judgment revisits the compensation awarded for the revolutionary \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 service and reshapes the legal process moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/vodacom-offers-smartphones-for-just-r67\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vodacom Offers Smartphones for Just R67: Limited-Time Deal You Can\u2019t Miss<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"concourt-overturns-scas-previous-ruling\">ConCourt Overturns SCA\u2019s Previous Ruling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.concourt.org.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The ConCourt overturned<\/a> the February 2024 SCA ruling that had ordered Vodacom to pay Makate between 5% and 7.5% of total revenue from the service since 2001, plus interest. Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that the SCA exceeded its jurisdiction by replacing the Gauteng High Court\u2019s original decision without adequate explanation. Consequently, the case will return to the SCA for reconsideration by a new panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1674169229\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-origins-of-please-call-me-service\">The Origins of \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 service allowed users to send free callback messages, revolutionizing mobile communication in South Africa. Nkosana Makate, a former Vodacom employee, conceptualized this idea to help prepaid users connect affordably. The service became widely popular and generated significant revenue for Vodacom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"legal-battle-spanning-nearly-two-decades\">Legal Battle Spanning Nearly Two Decades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Makate filed for compensation shortly after the service\u2019s launch, but Vodacom initially refused to pay. Over the years, the dispute went through several courts, including the High Court, SCA, and ultimately the Constitutional Court. Each ruling adjusted potential compensation amounts and legal interpretations of intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1934955611\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"disputed-compensation-figures-highlighted\">Disputed Compensation Figures Highlighted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SCA\u2019s minority judgment estimated Makate\u2019s compensation at around R186 million, while the majority estimated a staggering R29 to R63 billion payout. In contrast, Makate\u2019s legal team recently expressed willingness to settle for R9.4 billion, revealing the high stakes and complexity of the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"acting-deputy-chief-justice-madlangas-remarks\">Acting Deputy Chief Justice Madlanga\u2019s Remarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/business\/companies\/vodacom-victory-sends-18-year-please-call-me-battle-back-to-supreme-court-of-appeal-20250731-0594\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Madlanga described the 20-year<\/a> legal saga as \u201can unending litigation\u201d and criticized the SCA for insufficient reasoning. He underscored that the SCA disregarded important facts and legal issues, justifying the need for a retrial. This judgment reassures parties about the importance of due process in intellectual property disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3721173582\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vodacoms-arguments-on-jurisdiction-and-compensatio\">Vodacom\u2019s Arguments on Jurisdiction and Compensation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vodacom argued that the previous court rulings lacked jurisdictional authority and improperly determined compensation amounts. The company maintained that it had already offered R47 million for the invention following failed negotiations, highlighting contractual complexities and emphasizing the need for clear agreements on employee inventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"ConCourt upholds Vodacom&#039;s appeal against &#039;Please Call Me&#039; inventor\" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kDBl7-9P4po?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?sca_esv=350ce77c903cf1b3&amp;sxsrf=AE3TifPWGnpAFtEC37ZuIFjWMfnE5hWOAg:1753956020342&amp;q=Vodacom+Wins+ConCourt+Appeal+in+%E2%80%98Please+Call+Me%E2%80%99+Case+Against+Nkosana+Makate&amp;source=lnms&amp;fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZrjP_Cx0LI1Ytb_FGcOviEiUdDbudRJcj_XrX-bUtGmXd1dE3p3F_ZgcArwq4UVTti98HsbbStWovL4DnTqorDoL5XuFzd7lFpyZGP03U3LyPAfSwlx-cYSq1SwddCOoSt8o1hZBAiuAAKYee9BYZjvF4U5AqCxnAnvycb24XyBFISZ_Oct2q9ft9w6FptkV0yXGyHdyBlakHflcLu5BjLWAp4B8&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjY_Kys6-aOAxU9UUEAHX-WHRwQ0pQJegQICxAB&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732&amp;dpr=1#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:5bd647ac,vid:kDBl7-9P4po,st:0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-importance-of-clear-ip-agreements-in-employmen\">The Importance of Clear IP Agreements in Employment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This case underscores the critical need for companies to establish transparent contracts addressing intellectual property created by employees. It highlights the risks when innovators lack formal agreements securing fair compensation and recognition for their contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3458085423\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"public-and-industry-reactions-to-the-verdict\">Public and Industry Reactions to the Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Many sympathize with Makate\u2019s prolonged fight for acknowledgment, while some legal experts support the ruling for reaffirming the importance of procedural fairness. The case has stimulated broader discussions about corporate ethics and inventor rights in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-lies-ahead-for-vodacom-and-makate\">What Lies Ahead for Vodacom and Makate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the ConCourt\u2019s ruling, the case returns to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourtofappeal.org.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the SCA for a fresh hearing <\/a>before a new panel. Vodacom and Makate must prepare for another legal chapter, while the industry watches closely. This ongoing saga may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/author\/molefe-seeletsa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">influence future legislative reforms <\/a>aimed at protecting inventors\u2019 rights in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vodacom wins a key constitutional court appeal in the \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 case, sending the matter back to the Supreme Court of Appeal. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":19564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Vodacom wins a key constitutional court appeal in the \u2018Please Call Me\u2019 case, sending the matter back to the Supreme Court of Appeal. ","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[9561],"class_list":{"0":"post-19559","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-vodacom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19559"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19570,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19559\/revisions\/19570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}