Nkosana Makate will receive only part of his settlement with Vodacom over the Please Call Me service invention while a court battle with his former litigation backer continues. Black Rock Mining Limited, an Australian firm supported by British investor Errol Elsdon, is claiming 40 percent of the payout based on a 2011 funding arrangement that allegedly covered legal expenses in exchange for a share of any winnings. The telecom company and Makate resolved their 17-year dispute through an out-of-court agreement in November, with estimates placing the confidential amount between 353 million and 748 million rand.
Makate's legal representatives have agreed to retain the contested portion in trust while releasing the remaining 60 percent to their client pending a judicial hearing. The dispute centers on whether Makate properly terminated the funding contract, with Black Rock asserting that he sent cancellation documents to an incorrect entity. Makate conceived the callback request feature while working as a trainee accountant at the mobile operator and subsequently pursued compensation through multiple court levels.
Makate's legal representatives have agreed to retain the contested portion in trust while releasing the remaining 60 percent to their client pending a judicial hearing. The dispute centers on whether Makate properly terminated the funding contract, with Black Rock asserting that he sent cancellation documents to an incorrect entity. Makate conceived the callback request feature while working as a trainee accountant at the mobile operator and subsequently pursued compensation through multiple court levels.
