MAKATE’S R700 MILLION PAYDAY UNDER THREAT!
By Chilis Suzan Zukwa: Nkosana Makate, the inventor of Vodacom’s “Please Call Me” service, is facing a new legal challenge just days after securing a substantial out-of-court settlement with the telecom giant. A British Virgin Islands firm, Black Rock Mining, is demanding 40% of Makate’s payout, claiming it financed his 20-year court battle.
According to reports, Black Rock Mining cites a 2011 funding agreement, which Makate’s lawyers argue was lawfully terminated in 2015. Wilna Lubbe, a senior advocate representing Makate, has dismissed the claim as “baseless,” stating that the funding arrangement was rescinded well before the Constitutional Court’s landmark 2019 ruling that forced Vodacom to negotiate compensation.
Black Rock Mining has threatened urgent court action if it doesn’t receive a slice of the payout, potentially worth hundreds of millions of rands. Makate, who has seen his compensation delayed by the new claim, had previously expressed his intention to use the funds to establish educational trusts and support disadvantaged communities.
The dispute highlights the complex legacy of high-stakes litigation funding in South Africa, where third-party backers often secure substantial percentages in exchange for shouldering risk
