Nkosana Makate, the man credited with being the brains behind Vodacom's "Please Call Me" message service, said on Thursday he was grateful for the public support he has received in his long-drawn-out multi-million rand civil claim against the mobile phone giant.
Some of the support has come in the form of the Please Call Me Movement which has the backing of some politicians.
A crowd of about 200 people gathered at Vodacom's headquarters in Midrand, under the watchful eye of police.
Vodacom, which closed its shops to trading in the wealthy Sandton district on Thursday, has sent organisers of the protest a cease and desist letter to stop what it described as incitement to invade its stores.
Makate told the African News Agency via telephone that he would not join the demonstration but was following developments on social media.
The Constitutional Court ruled in 2016 that Vodacom should pay Makate "reasonable compensation" for the "Please Call Me" service he developed in 2000.
Makate described the amount offered to him by Vodacom as "shocking and an insult".
Speaking to talk radio station 702 on Thursday, litigation funder Chris Schoeman said Vodacom had offered R49 million.
Schoeman met Makate in 2011 and helped fund his legal battle against Vodacom, which ultimately resulted in the Constitutional Court ruling.
Because they signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the compensation negotiations, Makate declined to confirm any of the figures floating in the media
"This matter has dragged for too long now. It's 10 years since we took it to court and 19 years since it started. My children are now teenagers and it is yet to be resolved," Makate added.
- African News Agency (ANA)
