Nkosana Makate: biography

Nkosana Kenneth Makate was born at Natalspruit Hospital in 1976 and raised in the East Rand township of Katlehong, meaning “place of success”, by his illiterate maternal grandparents. His mother was at college training to become a teacher.

Relaying his life story in court two weeks ago, Makate recalled how he had always been known to take care of himself. As a youngster he would walk from door to door in the neighbourhood selling vegetables on behalf of his grandmother; he received a stipend in return. In high school he worked in his uncle’s spaza shop, where he earned pocket money. Makate attended Alapang High School but completed Grade 11 and matric, in 1994, at a college in Springs.

In January 1995, he responded to a Vodacom advertisement inviting applications for its trainee accounting programme. He became a Vodacom employee on February 2. By 2002, Makate had graduated with a BCom Honours degree. He resigned from Vodacom in 2003 and is now a director of finance control at the SA Local Government Association.

Makate is married to Rebecca, who was the inspiration behind his Please Call Me idea in 2000. She was his girlfriend at the time. – Asha Speckman