Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court has announced that it will issue the long-awaited judgment on the high-stakes “Please Call Me” case between innovator Nkosana Makate and Vodacom, a subsidiary of British telecom giant Vodafone.
In a post on X, the Constitutional Court stated: “Judgment to be handed down on 31 July 2025 at 10h00: Did the Supreme Court of Appeal disregard the true issues before it with the result that there was a total failure of justice, in breach of the rule of law and the constitutional right to a fair hearing?”
The apex court added: “Did the Supreme Court of Appeal act beyond its jurisdiction in setting aside and substituting the high court’s order with its own, in the absence of a cross-appeal?”
Vodacom is appealing a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) decision that overturned its initial R47 million compensation offer, rejected by Makate in 2019, and ordered a new offer.
Makate is demanding R9.4 billion for his invention, which Vodacom has profited from since 2000.
The matter was heard on 21 November 2024.
It has taken the Constitutional Court eight months to finalise the judgment.
RELATED: Vodacom Says ‘Please Call Me’ Compensation Range Still Uncertain – The Bulrushes
*This article first appeared in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za
