The example of Nkosana Makate, who devised a function regarding “Please Call Me” for Vodacom, tells us a story of innovation, determination, and a protracted legal fight for the due compensation. “Please Call Me” stirred global markets after being introduced at the turn of the new millennium, by becoming the foremost one-to-one messaging mobile network operator that let people with depleted airtime to send for free the person one wanted to call him, hence South Africa and the world soon followed suit.
At the time, Makate, who was then working at Vodacom, came up with an idea and presented it to the company. In any case, the experience turned sour very quickly, involving an argument over financial recognition. Makate did not get any money even though the function was a hit, thus he went through a court battle that turned into a national issue.
In the past years, Makate has been battling Vodacom, demanding R9.4 billion in compensation. His solicitors have pleaded that Vodacom has enough money for such a payment, by showing that Vodacom pays billions in dividends to shareholders annually