By Were Kelly |
South Africa’s longest-running corporate legal battle has finally ended, with Vodacom announcing an out-of-court settlement with Nkosana Makate, the inventor of the “Please Call Me” service.
The dispute, which lasted 17 years and went to the nation’s highest courts, has been resolved for an undisclosed sum, ending a saga that became a national symbol of the fight for inventor rights.
The settlement was confirmed on Thursday, with Vodacom stating it had withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal against a previous ruling awarding Makate R9.8 billion. That award will not be enforced under the new confidential agreement.
In a brief statement, Vodacom’s CEO said: “After nearly two decades, it is time for closure. While the terms are confidential, we believe this settlement is in the best interests of the company and allows us to move forward.”
For Makate, the settlement concludes a long personal and financial battle that began when he proposed the idea of a free call-back service to Vodacom in the early 2000s.
“This has been a long and painful journey for my family,” Makate said. “While I cannot discuss the details, I am satisfied that this chapter is closed and that my contribution has finally been recognised.”
The case captured the nation’s attention, raising questions about corporate ethics and the value of innovation. An intellectual property lawyer not involved in the case said: “The ‘Please Call Me’ saga became a symbol of the struggle for inventor rights against corporate giants.”
