The Makate vs Vodacom saga: A deep dive into the 'Please Call Me' court battle
Outgoing Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Madlanga delivered his last ruling involving the long-running dispute between Nkosana Makate and Vodacom over the Please Call Me invention.
The ruling has significant implications for the case and the legal battle for compensation. We take a deep dive into the key events in the Makate vs Vodacom 'Please Call Me' battle.
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IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Free 1996 Constitution booklet signed by South African greats now valued at nearly R1 million
A free 1996 booklet titled "The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa", bearing the signatures of South African greats, is now valued at nearly R1 million. Image: File "I know him, I know him and I also know her." These were the words uttered by former President Nelson Mandela when he was asked to autograph a 1996 booklet, "The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa", lovingly gathered over a few years by retired chef Neels du Plooy. Now the much-travelled booklet is on sale on Facebook Marketplace with a price tag of a million rand, which might seem steep were it not for the fact that it has the signatures of 30 iconic South African political leaders and judicial pioneers who crafted our peaceful transition to democracy. Many South Africans got a copy of the beloved booklet when it was released, but while ours have no collector value, Du Plooy's is sure to pique the interest of collectors of Mandela memorabilia and those fascinated in our transition to democracy. It has the signatures of former presidents, Nelson Mandela and Mbeki, as well as the last apartheid president, FW de Klerk and current head of state, Cyril Ramaphosa. It also bears the signature of the King of Lesotho and the first Speaker of Parliament, Frene Ginwala, Albie Sachs, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court in 1999 and a host of others. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Chef Neels du Plooy with then-President Thabo Mbeki at a game farm in 1999, where he got a signature from Mbeki and his wife, Zanele. Image: Supplied "Mandela was the only one who autographed the booklet who was interested to see who else had signed it, saying 'I know him, I know him and I know her'", Du Plooy told "Independent Media Lifestyle". Du Plooy, 71, was given a copy of the booklet by a journalist friend, and he wasted no time as a chef with Fedics to gather as many signatures as he could of the influential personalities whenever the opportunity arose. "I cooked 99 percent of them, so I always carried the booklet with me and would ask the head chef if I could ask them for autographs. "I even cooked for former President Thabo Mbeki and his wife on a game farm at Mapungubwe in 1999, where we spent four days just before Christmas, and that is when I got both their signatures," he said. He was involved in the catering for the inauguration of Mbeki. Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki at the latter's inauguration as president of South Africa in 1999, both of whom signed Neels du Plooy's booklet on our Constitution. Image: Debbie Yazbek "In the late '90s, I was at the opening of the Lesotho Highlands Katse Dam and took the booklet with me, and after the meal, there were a lot of MPs, including Ramaphosa and five or six premiers of the first administration whose signatures I was able to get." That's where he also got the signature of King Letsi III, ruler of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Du Plooy managed to get the signatures of George Bizos, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Kader Asmal, Arthur Chaskalson and Govan Mbeki. Du Plooy, who lives in Sandringham, Johannesburg, was later a chef at a restaurant in the Joburg Civic Centre in Braamfontein, and so he used that opportunity to gather signatures of important people when they came to dine. He believes it is the only booklet in the world that bears the signatures of four state presidents. But there is one signature at the top left of the first page of the booklet which he has not been able to identify. "I only got signatures of significant people at the time, so it was someone important, I am just unable to work out whose signature it is," he said. The signature at the top left of this page has turned out to be a puzzler for Neels du Plooy, who only sought the signatures of significant players in our transition to democracy. Image: Supplied Du Plooy said there is one signature he wishes it had, and that is of Roelf Meyer, who was a key drafter of the Constitution, with whom he has lost contact. The Marketplace advert states that the booklet is accompanied by a provenance certificate and official ISBN registration. "This volume is a verified original - an irreplaceable piece of South African history... Ideal for collectors of Mandela-era memorabilia, constitutional scholars or institutions preserving democratic heritage."
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Nedbank denies allegations of rand manipulation by Competition Commission
The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg heard arguments by various banks, including Nedbank, that it was not part of a conspiracy to manipulate the rand/US dollar. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Due to the cryptic nature of the allegations against Nedbank by the Competition Commission that this bank was part of a conspiracy to manipulate the rand, Nedbank has no case to answer as there is not a shred of evidence regarding any wrongdoing against it. This is according to Advocate Anthony Gotz SC, who on Wednesday told the Constitutional Court that Nedbank should never have been added as a respondent in the Competition Commission's referral of the matter to the tribunal. This argument follows the Competition Commission's appeal following last year's judgment in which the Competition Appeal Court (CAC) cleared 13 banks - including Nedbank - from facing the music in a later trial regarding the rand/US dollar manipulation saga. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, acting on behalf of the Competition Commission, on Monday told the Constitutional Court that there is enough evidence to establish a prima facie case that they were involved in the manipulation of the rand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Competition Commission, in its initial referral of the complaint to the Competition Tribunal, did not list Nedbank as one of the suspects. It, however, amended its referral in 2020 during which Nedbank was included as one of the alleged conspirators of the rigging of the rand. Gotz said in its application to join Nedbank, the commission pleaded a broad conspiracy against the bank, but the allegations were narrow. The allegations were based solely on the commission's assessment regarding trading data on the Reuters platform. This platform does not reflect trades - it's a public platform which simply indicates the prices at which traders are willing to buy and sell currency, Gotz said. According to him, the case against Nedbank is based on the commission's assessment of trading data over six years. 'This is not a case of Nedbank being a participant in any chatroom - in this respect Nedbank is different from the other respondents,' Gotz said. He argued that the allegations against Nedbank are skeletal and there are only a few instances which lasted minutes each on the Reuters platform, on which the commission is now relying. Gotz said these allegations are not made specifically against Nedbank, but against other banks that they had withheld quotes. This, he argued, is definitely not enough to establish that Nedbank was part of any conspiracy to rig the rand. He questioned how it could be suggested that this bank was part of an international cartel. Gotz also pointed out that the few instances the commission is relying on happened six months to a year apart. 'The commission cannot make allegations in the air. We accept that in cartel cases, it is difficult to identify each perpetrator, but this is not a licence for the commission to do what it has done,' he argued.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Here's when the Madlanga commission investigating Mkhwanazi's claims will start
The public hearings will be held in Pretoria. Former Constitutional Court (ConCourt) judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga's judicial commission of inquiry into the police is set to begin its proceedings next month. The public hearings are scheduled to take place in Pretoria. The inquiry has been tasked to investigate allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference within South Africa's criminal justice system. Its scope extends to major state institutions, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Service (Saps), and the State Security Agency (SSA). ALSO READ: Parties question ANC MP's election in Mkhwanazi ad hoc committee, logistics concerns raised The commission has the authority to summon individuals for testimony, among other functions, as outlined in the terms of reference published in the Government Gazette last month. A preliminary report is expected within three months, followed by a final report in six months, although the timeframe could be extended if necessary. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously stated that the inquiry should not take longer than a year. Madlanga commission's first sitting confirmed In a statement released on Wednesday, the commission confirmed that hearings will officially commence on 1 September. After considering several venues across Gauteng, the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in central Pretoria has been chosen as the venue for the hearings. 'The venue is available to the commission free of charge,' the statement reads. READ MORE: Ramaphosa says punitive action against Mchunu would set dangerous precedent According to the commission, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is handling logistical arrangements to ensure the hearings start on time. 'Likewise, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is attending to alterations that will make the venue fit for purpose. 'It is important for the public to note that the commission's offices are not yet available for submissions and further announcements will be made in this regard.' [DOWNLOAD]: Judicial Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the Criminal Justice System arising from the specific allegations made public by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025. 🔗 — The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 23, 2025 Ad hoc committee The commission was established after KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's explosive allegations. Among these were claims that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu – currently on special leave – intervened to disband the political killings task team in order to shield individuals linked to politically connected crime syndicates. Mkhwanazi further alleged Mchunu had connections to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, a figure who previously held a now-cancelled R360 million police contract. A parliamentary ad hoc committee has also been set up to investigate Mkhwanazi's claims, operating separately from the judicial commission. This committee, which has until 31 October to complete its work, adopted draft terms of reference this week to guide MPs in carrying out the inquiry. Hearings are scheduled to start in Johannesburg and will continue in Cape Town following Parliament's recess. NOW READ: Here are some of the rules outlining Parliament's Mkhwanazi allegations probe
