Nkosana Kenneth Makate from South Africa is the inventor of Vodacom’s ‘Please Call Me’ service, and is demanding U.S.$656 million (R10 billion) from Vodacom after turning down an offer of U.S.$3 million (R47 million) settlement offer from the cellular service provider, as the amount he is duly owed.
According to him, even if the court ruled in favour of Vodacom, it would mark the end of his protracted legal battle with the cellular giant. “I don’t have plans with the money as such, but there are many projects I’ve thought about venturing into. But if the court rules in favour of Vodacom, it will be the end of the road for me on this matter and I will take the amount the court decides on,” Makate said.
Makate’s legal wrangle reached a pitch during January this year when protesters gathered outside Vodacom World in Midrand, Johannesburg demanding Makate be paid U.S.4.6 billion (R70 billion) for his involvement in the company’s Please Call Me service.
Makate filed papers at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last week.
