Judgment in the multimillion-rand case against Vodacom by former employee Nkosana Makate has been reserved, it was reported on Wednesday.
Lawyers representing both parties concluded their closing arguments in the high court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, The New Age newspaper said.
Makate claims to have invented the concept of “please call me”, a free SMS service that was said to have and continues to generate billions of rand for the service provider.
Although the service was introduced 13 years ago, Makate and Vodacom have been in a profit share dispute.
Makate’s lawyer previously told the court that the estimated amount owed to him was R650m.
Makate was a 23-year-old junior accountant when he allegedly pitched the concept to the product development manager Phillip Geissler in 2001.
He claims Geissler promised him a share in the profits generated by the concept but Vodacom still refuses to pay him, saying Geissler had no authority to reach a payment agreement with him. — Sapa