Nkosana Kenneth Makate Nhlapo is a South African financial executive and innovator best known as the man behind the “Please Call Me” idea. Born in 1976 at Natalspruit Hospital in Katlehong, Gauteng, Makate grew up under humble conditions. His mother was away studying to become a teacher, so he was raised by his grandparents, who taught him the value of hard work and perseverance. Those early years shaped his determination and eye for problem-solving, qualities that would later define his career.
Nkosana Makate Profile
| Name | Nkosana Makate |
| Real Name | Nkosana Kenneth Makate Nhlapo |
| Date of Birth | 1976 |
| Age | 49 years |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Financial Executive and Innovator |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $53,000 |
| Copied from | contents101.com |
Educational Background
Makate completed his matric in 1994 and earned excellent results that helped him secure a scholarship to study commerce. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction. His education in finance laid the foundation for his career at Vodacom, where he joined as a trainee accountant in 1995.
Career
Makate began working at Vodacom in the mid-1990s as a trainee accountant. In November 2000, at the age of 24, he came up with the idea that changed South African telecommunications a service allowing prepaid users without airtime to send a free message asking someone to call them back. He presented the idea, known as “Please Call Me,” to his superiors, and Vodacom launched it officially in 2001.
The service became a massive success, driving billions of rand in extra voice revenue for Vodacom and transforming communication for millions of people. Despite its success, Makate was not compensated for his idea. In 2019, Vodacom offered him R47 million, which he rejected as unfair.
After a long legal battle that began in 2008, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2016 that Vodacom must negotiate with him in good faith. In 2022, the Pretoria High Court ordered Vodacom to pay Makate 5 % of the total revenue generated by the service between 2001 and 2021. The Supreme Court of Appeal later increased the percentage to between 5% and 7.5%, a figure estimated between R29 billion and R63 billion.
In July 2025, the Constitutional Court overturned that ruling, citing serious procedural errors and sent the case back to the Supreme Court of Appeal for a fresh hearing before a new panel of judges. Vodacom was also granted the right to appeal, and the court ordered Makate to pay legal costs. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic and believes justice will eventually prevail.
Controversies
The Please Call Me dispute is one of South Africa’s most talked-about legal battles. It raised questions about corporate fairness, intellectual property rights, and how big companies treat employee innovations.
The latest controversy surrounds a Constitutional Court decision in July 2025 that ordered Makate to pay around R13 million in legal costs after Vodacom successfully appealed the earlier ruling in its favour. The court accepted Vodacom’s request for the costs of three counsel due to the complexity and scale of the case.
Makate criticized the decision, calling it unfair and discouraging to ordinary South Africans who challenge large corporations. He said the ruling could scare people from standing up for their rights. The long-running case will now return to the Supreme Court of Appeal in November 2025 for a new hearing.
Nkosana Makate Social Media Handle
https://www.instagram.com/nkosana_makate
Personal Life
Makate has been married to Dr Rebecca Makate, a paediatrician, since 2005. The couple began dating in 1994 and have three children together. Despite the fame and pressure surrounding his legal battle, Makate is known to be humble, family-oriented, and deeply spiritual. He often credits his wife and family for their support through years of court proceedings.
Nkosana Makate Net Worth
As of early 2025, Makate’s estimated net worth is about R1 million (around $53,000). However, this figure could dramatically change depending on the outcome of his ongoing legal case with Vodacom. If the courts ultimately rule in his favour, his compensation could reach several billions of rand, one of the largest individual payouts in South African corporate history.