Just days after finalizing a landmark settlement with Vodacom Group Limited over the “Please Call Me” invention, Nkosana Kenneth Makate is confronting a fresh legal dispute, this time involving a third-party claimant seeking a portion of his payout.
Landmark Settlement Concluded
On 4 November 2025, Vodacom announced that its board had approved an out-of-court settlement with Makate, effectively ending a protracted legal battle over the rights to the pioneering free messaging service.
While the exact financial details were not disclosed, the settlement was significant enough to be reflected in Vodacom’s interim financial statements, marking a major milestone in Makate’s long quest for recognition and compensation.
Emergence of Black Rock Mining
Following the settlement, Black Rock Mining Limited, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, claimed entitlement to 40% of Makate’s compensation from Vodacom.
The company asserts that an earlier agreement from around 2011, in which it purportedly funded Makate’s legal costs, grants it a share of any award or settlement related to the invention.
Makate’s Response
Makate’s legal team has vigorously contested the claim, stating that any prior agreement with Black Rock was rescinded in 2015 and that the company has no legal claim to the settlement proceeds.
They emphasised that Makate finalized the settlement with Vodacom independently, without involvement from the third-party backers.
Stakes and Implications
If Black Rock Mining’s claim succeeds, it could reduce a substantial portion of Makate’s settlement, potentially amounting to tens or hundreds of millions of rands.
The dispute may also complicate Vodacom’s role in disbursing the settlement, as the company could face requests to withhold payment until the claim is resolved.
This development highlights a key lesson for inventors and corporates alike: even after a major settlement is reached, third-party agreements or funding arrangements can create new legal challenges, emphasizing the importance of clear and well-terminated contracts regarding intellectual property and compensation rights.
Next Steps
The matter is likely to proceed through legal channels, unless an out-of-court resolution is reached.
Key developments will include whether Vodacom will release the settlement funds, whether Makate will formally challenge Black Rock Mining’s claim, and how the courts or negotiators determine the validity of the alleged entitlement.
As this situation unfolds, the outcome will determine whether Makate retains full benefit from his hard-won settlement or if the new claimant will secure a portion of the compensation he has long sought.
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