Cape Town – The Constitutional Court has ruled in favour of Vodacom in its long-running legal battle with “Please Call Me” inventor Nkosana Makate, sending the case back to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) for reconsideration by a new panel of judges.
Vodacom was appealing a February 2024 SCA ruling that overturned its R47 million compensation offer to Makate.
The SCA had ordered Vodacom to pay 5% to 7.5% of the total revenue generated by the service since 2001, with estimates ranging from R29 billion to R63 billion.
WATCH | The Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled in favour of Vodacom, setting aside the 2024 SCA decision that ordered the company to pay Nkosana Makate between 5% and 7.5% of the revenue earned from the service over 18 years. The matter will now return to the SCA. pic.twitter.com/04dTUBZpNz
— Nonkululeko Njilo (@Nkulee_Njilo) July 31, 2025
Makate had indicated he was willing to settle for R9.4 billion.
Delivering the judgment, Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga criticised the SCA for failing to give adequate reasons and for overstepping its jurisdiction.
The matter will now be reviewed again by a new SCA panel.
Meanwhile, Makate remains confident that he can persuade the Supreme Court of Appeal to compel Vodacom to pay him the billions he believes he rightfully deserves for his idea.
Watch the below
[WATCH] Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate says he is still confident that he can convince the SCA to order Vodacom to pay him billions which he feels he is entitled to for his concept. This is after the Constitutional Court sent the settlement matter back to Bloemfontein.… pic.twitter.com/CT9amiTpT9
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 31, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
