‘Please Call Me’ inventor explores options after Vodacom's ‘ridiculous, insulting’ settlement
Nkosana Makate came up with the idea in 2000 and has been fighting to be compensated
Nkosana Makate, the former employee behind the Please Call Me service, says he is exploring his options after Vodacom decided on a “ridiculous and insulting” sum of money to settle a long-standing dispute between them. Vodacom said over the weekend it considered the matter “finally settled and closed” after its CEO, Shameel Joosub, had decided on a “reasonable” payment for Makate, the former employee who came up with the idea in late 2000. The mobile operator did not disclose the amount, citing a confidentiality agreement. This comes nearly three years after the Constitutional Court ruled that Makate must be compensated for coming up with the idea behind the service, which lets subscribers request call-backs for no charge. The court did not set parameters for what “reasonable compensation” should be if the parties could not reach an agreement. After negotiations on a fair payment reached a deadlock, it fell to Joosub to arbitrate on the matter. He received oral and written represent...
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