Please Call Me Inventor’s Landmark Payout Challenged as Former Funders Demand 40% Share
In a dramatic twist to South Africa’s long-running intellectual property saga, the former financial backers of “Please Call Me” inventor Nkosana Makate have resurfaced to claim a substantial portion of his multimillion-rand settlement with Vodacom.
Legal Claim Threatens to Derail Historic Settlement
Black Rock Mining, represented by SN Mnguni Attorneys Inc., has formally demanded that Vodacom withhold payment to Makate, claiming entitlement to 40% of the settlement amount. The company’s legal representatives have expressed concerns that Makate’s current attorneys, Stemela & Lubbe, might not honor what they describe as their client’s rightful share.
In correspondence seen by journalists, attorney Sinenhlanhla Mnguni requested Vodacom disclose whether payment instructions had been issued to Stemela & Lubbe’s trust account. The legal team has given Vodacom until close of business on Monday, November 10, 2025, to commit to withholding payment, threatening court action if the telecommunications giant fails to comply.
High-Stakes Investment in Groundbreaking Case
The roots of this financial dispute stretch back to 2011, when Makate entered into an agreement with businessman Chris Schoeman. Through a company called Raining Men Trade, Schoeman assembled a consortium of investors to bankroll Makate’s legal battle against Vodacom—a case that would eventually reach South Africa’s Constitutional Court.
This was no ordinary investment. Each backer received allocations of 4-5% of any future settlement while shouldering the entire financial risk if Makate’s case failed. Essentially, Makate’s quest for recognition became a high-stakes gamble for wealthy investors funding litigation through South Africa’s highest courts.
Calculating the Controversial Compensation
While both Vodacom and Makate have maintained confidentiality regarding the settlement amount, financial analysis reveals staggering figures. By examining Vodacom’s earnings per share disclosures on the JSE News Service, industry experts estimate the settlement likely falls between R353 million and R748 million.
This valuation means Black Rock’s 40% claim translates to a demand ranging from R141 million to R299 million—numbers that explain the intensity of the current legal standoff.
A History of Fractured Relationships
The relationship between Makate and his original funders began deteriorating as early as 2014. Schoeman previously alleged that Stemela & Lubbe attempted to undermine the funding agreement by falsely claiming investors weren’t covering legal bills. He maintains these allegations emerged only when fellow directors demanded detailed billing statements.
Makate counters that the funding agreement with Raining Men Trade was formally cancelled in 2015. He further alleged that some signatures on nomination documents weren’t authentic—claims subsequently validated by judicial findings.
Court Precedent Casts Doubt on New Claim
The current claim faces significant legal hurdles based on previous court rulings. Five years ago, Judge Jody Kollapen blocked Raining Men Trade from participating in Makate’s review application against Vodacom. The court noted two existing cost orders against the company for unpaid legal expenses and required R350,000 security before considering their participation.
Judge Kollapen’s reasoning was straightforward: it made little sense to involve a party with demonstrated inability to cover legal costs in complex litigation.
Conflicting Accounts of Contract Status
The central dispute revolves around whether the original funding agreement remains valid. Attorney Wilna Lubbe of Stemela & Lubbe maintains Black Rock’s argument lacks merit, stating the contract was rescinded years ago and Makate owes nothing to his former backers.
However, Mnguni vehemently disagrees, asserting the contract was never properly cancelled and the original agreement between Makate and Schoeman remains legally binding.
As legal representatives for both sides declined comment and Vodacom maintained its silence, the stage is set for another potential courtroom battle—this time over how to divide the rewards from an idea that revolutionized mobile communication in South Africa.
Source: Original reporting based on court documents and financial analysis