Vodacom has officially concluded its long-running legal battle with Kenneth Makate, the originator of the “Please Call Me” service, through an out-of-court settlement. The agreement, approved by Vodacom’s board on 4 November 2025, brings finality to a dispute that has spanned over two decades and shaped South Africa’s legal landscape around intellectual property and corporate accountability.
In a statement to shareholders released on 5 November, Vodacom confirmed that the settlement terms will be reflected in its interim financial results for the six-month period ending 30 September 2025. However, the exact financial details of the agreement remain confidential and are expected to be disclosed when the company publishes its results on 10 November.
“The parties are glad that finality has been reached in this regard,” Vodacom said in its Sens announcement. As part of the settlement process, Vodacom formally withdrew its appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal and abandoned the High Court judgment issued on 8 February 2022.
Makate, a former Vodacom employee, first proposed the “Please Call Me” concept in 2001—a free missed-call service allowing users to request a callback without using airtime. Despite initial internal recognition, Makate was never compensated, prompting him to initiate legal proceedings in 2008.
The case reached the Constitutional Court, which ruled in Makate’s favor, ordering Vodacom to negotiate fair compensation. Vodacom initially offered R10 million, later increasing it to R47 million, which Makate rejected. He argued that the service generated billions in revenue and sought compensation closer to R9.7 billion.
In a subsequent ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered Vodacom to pay Makate between 5% and 7.5% of the revenue generated by the service over 18 years. Analysts estimated this could amount to between R29 billion and R55 billion. Vodacom challenged the ruling, arguing that the SCA had relied too heavily on Makate’s data and failed to consider its own submissions. The Constitutional Court later criticized the SCA’s process and ordered a rehearing by a new panel of judges.
With the new settlement, that rehearing will no longer take place, and the matter is officially closed. The resolution marks the end of one of South Africa’s most high-profile corporate legal battles and sets a precedent for how innovation and intellectual contributions are valued in the business world.
