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. 

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