Please Call Me Inventor in Legal Battle

By Sinethemba Mthabela

An inventor is always admired and held in high regard for their level of genius. But what happens when the inventor, in question, is being refused recognition for the same invention they created.

Former Vodacom employee, Nkosana Makate, is in an ongoing legal battle with his former employer for not recognising and compensating him for his invention.

Makate claims to have invented the 'Please Call Me' service that allows Vodacom users to send a free message to a fellow user they would like to call. The invention dates as far back as 2000.

Vodacom has agreed to settle with Makate after the Constitutional Court ruled in his favour in 2016. The mobile network was willing to pay Makate R49 million but the latter refused the offer stating that R70 billion was owed to him.

The case has gained massive media coverage with prominent public figures, such as Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi and former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, voicing their support for Makate.

In the midst of this debacle another individual formerly employed by Vodacom's rival network MTN is claiming ownership of the 'Please Call Me' invention.

Ari Kahn claims that MTN was already using this service when Vodacom decided to launch their own. He had allegedly done so a week prior to Makate pitching his idea to Vodacom.

Vodacom's financial benefit from this service was allegedly due to MTN not taking any legal action and enforcing their patent.

Confusion and frustration might describe this predicament which is almost two decades long. 

We'll keep you updated with any new developments. Keep on following Mish Mash and our exclusive stories. #MishMash

Protests over water

By Sinethemba Mthabela

Locals barricaded the street

Kwa Zulu-Natal is popular for its tourist attraction sites adorned by the tranquil Indian Ocean that makes for a beautiful scenery.

This introduction paints a wonderful picture right? But unfortunately not everything is all rosy.

23 years into democracy and the inequalities of this country continue to affect the poor. 2019 started off with protests over poor service delivery as well as a water crisis that has been looming, in Ladysmith, for almost a decade.

The area most affected is Ezakheni township situated on the outskirts of Ladysmith. Residents are fuming over the continuous water cuts, despite heavy rains, and the municipality's incompetence in dealing with the matter.

It is alleged that some officials from the Uthukela Municipality District have concocted a money-making scheme from the people's suffering.

According to residents the water supply is allegedly cut on purpose in order for water tankers to be leased out to affected areas. These tankers are believed to belong to certain officials who then pocket the funds.

A week barely passes without seeing residents lining up in the street with buckets and laundry basins to fill them up with water. 

"Our township is always the target and for what reason I don't know. You won't find this problem in the suburbs because every issue is fixed within minutes", complains Njabulo Radebe.

To express their frustration residents barricaded the main road with stones and burning tyres and vowed not to vote this year. Lucky Xaba says, "I'm not wasting my time and energy by voting for a government that has clearly failed us. For people planning on voting rather vote for other opposition parties". 

In December plain-clothed Hawks agents raided the municipality's offices in connection with an on going investigation and confiscated important documents.

Some senior officials were taken in for questioning but no arrests have been made thus far. The Uthukela Municipality District could not be reached for comment. Look out for more stories on #MishMashReload