Vodacom has attempted to have the Please Call Me case against them set aside, but the South Gauteng High Court denied this application. The plaintiff, Nkosana Makate created the locally famous Please Call Me in 2000, and was promised to be rewarded by executive of product development, Philip Geissler.
The oral agreement between Makate and Geissler is contrary to Vodacom’s policy whereby employees are not compensated above their salary for original concepts developed at and for the company.
Makate’s battle to be appropriately remunerated by Vodacom began in 2007 when letters were sent to Vodacom demanding remuneration, but the letters proved to be unsuccesful. In 2008 Makate approached the South Gauteng High Court and the issue was brought to trial in July 2013.
Vodacom is arguing that Geissler did not hold authority the commit to such an agreement with Makate and insufficient evidence has been provided as proof. Moreover Fanie Cilliers, Vodacom’s counsel has questioned why Makate took so long to seek legal action.
[Source: iOL]
