'PLEASE CALL ME' INVENTOR HOPES COURT'S FINAL DECISION IS IN HIS FAVOUR

When Nkosana Makate suggested the idea of 'please call me' to Vodacom two decades ago, no one would have thought that it would turn into a lengthy and expensive court battle between the former employee and the biggest mobile network in the country.

After numerous attempts to get compensated for what Makate believes the product is worth, and what it has meant financially for Vodacom, the mobile network eventually suggested a settlement of R47 million.

Vodacom believes this was a very generous settlement, but Makate and his legal team believe a settlement of R10 billion would be fair.

With both parties not being able to provide concrete evidence of exactly how much the 'please call me' product is worth, Judge Wendy Hughes will have a difficult time of coming to a conclusion.

Both parties have been questioned on their numbers. Vodacom claims that it's unable to give a sum total of what it has gained financially based on the product, and Makata's amounts have no concrete evidence as to where the original numbers come from.

It's still unsure when Judge Hughes will share her verdict in the matter.

Image credit: Weetracker