Vodacom still owes Makate
We’re still talking – SMS inventor
The “Please Call Me” inventor Nkosana Makate is yet to receive a penny from Vodacom.
More than a year since the Constitutional Court ruled in his favour, Makate is yet to get a cent for his SMS innovation which he created when he was still employed by Vodacom more than 10 years ago.
In 2015 Makate took Vodacom to court, claiming that he invented the popular “Please Call Me” SMS service which the company introduced in 2001. He demanded 15% of the proceeds of the service from Vodacom, including records of Vodacom’s UK-based parent company Vodaphone. This met heavy resistance.
However, Justice Chris Jafta’s judgment last year ordered Vodacom to start compensation negotiations with Makate within 30 days of the judgment and determine a reasonable payout. Yesterday, Makate said he was “fine” with progress made so far.
“It’s been a long battle that has taken its toll on me and my family. I’m a soldier and I will never give up,” Makate said.
In June last year Sowetan reported that Makate and his then lawyers filed affidavits at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria claiming that his previous lawyer Christiaan Schoeman was demanding half of Vodacom’s compensation.
At the time Schoeman said he had lodged an urgent application to interdict and restrain Makate from appointing new lawyers to represent him in the negotiations with Vodacom.
The matter between Makate and Schoeman is in arbitration. Makate, who currently works as a financial director for the government, confirmed yesterday that he was talking with Vodacom alone.
“I don’t have a lawyer. I am alone and I’m soldiering on. I stopped working with Schoeman a long time ago and I have not appointed anyone to negotiate on my behalf,” he said.
Vodacom’s Byron Kennedy said: “Negotiations to determine reasonable compensation … have resumed. Vodacom is hopeful that a settlement on the matter will be found soon.”