Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Vodacom Settles With 'Please Call Me' Inventor, Ending Long Legal Fight

The confidential deal ends a years-long court battle that once threatened multibillion‑rand liability for the carrier.

Overview

  • Vodacom said its board approved an out-of-court settlement with Nkosana (Kenneth) Makate on 4 November, confirming the resolution in a SENS notice on 5 November.
  • As part of the settlement, the company withdrew its appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal and asked the High Court to abandon the 8 February 2022 judgment.
  • Financial terms were not disclosed, though Vodacom reported the payment as a one‑off cost in interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2025, due for release on 10 November.
  • Analysts interpreting Vodacom’s updated trading guidance estimate a one‑off impact of roughly R353 million to R748 million, far below prior court-based calculations that ran into the billions.
  • The resolution follows a July Constitutional Court judgment that set aside an earlier SCA ruling and sent the matter back for rehearing, which will now not proceed.