Nkosana Makete, who claims that Vodacom stole his concept for the Please Cell Me service, has told the City Press that his 13-year bid to have it recognised as his own invention has been "stressful".
Makete has spent three weeks in the South Gauteng High Court defending his claim that he invented the service, the paper notes.
It adds that he claims he invented it while working as a junior accountant at Vodacom in 2000.
The paper says Makete is claiming that he had a verbal contract with Vodacom, entitling him to a share of the profits.
Former Vodacom CEO Alan Knott-Craig has, according to the City Press, stated that he invented the concept himself while watching two security guards trying to communicate via missed calls. Knott-Craig is currently Cell C's CEO.
Makete says he invented the concept because he was not sure whether a then-girlfriend, now his wife, was out of airtime, or avoiding him, says the paper.
Makete has reportedly patented a service called "I've Arrived', which has yet to gain traction.
He adds that his initial invention is worth a huge amount, based on the fact that some 38 million Please Call Me messages are sent daily and carry advertising.
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