ICYMI: Large crowd protests outside Vodaworld

A large crowd of people gathered outside Vodaworld in Midrand at lunchtime today, 18 July.

Journalist Welisa Nene was on the scene and reported that the protesters alleged that Nkosana Makate had not been paid by Vodacom for his ‘Please Call Me’ concept.

According to information on the protester’s pamphlet, the ‘march against Vodacom’ aimed to hand over a memorandum ‘forcing Vodacom to respect Constitutional Court ruling and pay Please Call Me inventor’.

Back in June, The Citizen reported that Makate and Vodacom reached an agreement that he would stop talking to the media. It was further reported, “Makate has been involved in an 18-year battle with the mobile telecommunications group who has not given him credit for his invention. In April 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled that the two parties should reach a consensus and negotiate how much Makate should be compensated.”

According to a report today by Jacaranda FM, the EFF is protesting to demand that the company pay Makate 15% of the revenue made from the Please Call Me service. The website further reported that the memorandum was accepted by Vodacom’s managing executive for external relations, Themba Kinana.

Midrand Reporter will update as soon as further information from both parties is received.

A large crowd of people was protesting outside Vodaworld in Midrand just minutes ago. According to protesters Nkosana Makate has still not been paid by Vodacom for his "Please Call Me" concept. @MidrandReporter #Vodacom#Vodaworld#NkosanaMakate#PleaseCallMe pic.twitter.com/PUgufxMeZi

— Welisa Nene (@welisanene) July 18, 2018

The protest at Vodaworld is over, and area is clear… the video shows the scene of the protest that took place a couple of minutes ago allegedly in support of Nkosana Makate.@MidrandReporter pic.twitter.com/v4JFXLPwOO

— Welisa Nene (@welisanene) July 18, 2018

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