Vodacom is reportedly looking to settle for “R40 billion” Please, call me Inventor Nkosana Kenneth Makate will appear in court this week.
Konsana Makate: Are you competing?
BusinessTech reports that Vodacom was scheduled to begin negotiations with Nkosana Makate on Tuesday, March 12.
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal found in February that Makate was entitled to compensation ranging from R29 billion to R63 billion.
The service provider revealed that the payments would have “devastating consequences” for mobile network operators, their employees and investors. Vodacom also filed an appeal against the Supreme Court's ruling on February 26th.
When contacted, Mr. Makate told the magazine that Vodacom had asked for a personal discussion, and that he would definitely agree to the request.
He also confirmed that consultations are scheduled for Tuesday, adding that he plans to file opposition papers with the Constitutional Court.
TimesLIVE reported on Monday, March 11, that Makate said the network was capable of paying the amount due on his claim.
He also said his bill to Vodacom was significantly less than the R40 billion the mobile phone giant was talking about.
VODACOM drags the “Please Call” saga
Businessman Nkosana Makate proposed Please, call me He pitched the idea to Vodacom 20 years ago when he was working in finance.
Daily Maverick reported in 2022 that the court had rejected a R47 million offer made by the telco to Makate in 2019.
Vodacom chief executive Shamir Joosab calculated Makate's compensation at the time to be R47 million.
At the time, Jusab revealed how Makate determines the revenue it generates. Please, call me Its 2001 market launch was flawed.
The company was ordered by the Pretoria High Court to present Mr Makate with a new compensation proposal for the idea.
Vodacom declined to comment on the matter at the time of publication.
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