Please-Call-Me Founder Nkosana Makate Opens Up About Battle With UK Investor for Millions

• Please-call-me investor Nkosana Makate discussed his court battle with United Kingdom investor Errol Elsdon for his payout
• Elsdon filed papers with the High Courts and applied to the court for an interdict to prevent Makate from receiving his settlement amount
• Vodacom agreed to settle for an undisclosed amount, and Elsdon alleged that he funded Makate's legal battles, a claim Makate vehemently denies

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News journalist with 10 years of experience, offered valuable insights into South Africa’s business environment during his three years at Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG — Nkosana Makate, the founder of Please-Call-Me, slammed the lawsuit United Kingdom investor Errol Elsdon filed against him after Vodacom settled with Makate. Elsdon argued that he is entitled to 40% of the payout.

Speaking to Business Day, Makate discussed the case between him and Elsdon. He spoke after his counsel, Reinard Michau, appeared before the South Gauteng High Court on 5 December 2025, where the court heard the case. Elsdon filed an urgent bid to stop Stemela & Lubbe, Makate's attorneys, from paying the full amount to Makate. Makate is also litigating a case with Black Rock Mining, a company Elsdon was a director of.

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Makate's lawyers argue agreement ceased

Michau argued that in his 2021 affidavit, which he filed in the High Court. The affidavit states that Makate stopped receiving money from Black Rock Mining in 2014. The final payment from the company was R7,830 in 2014. Michau accused Elsdon of preying on Makate. He said Elsdon lurked in the shadows and waited for the case to be finalized before making a claim to the payout and demanding 40% be paid to him.

What did Makate say?

Makate, speaking outside of the court, reiterated that the agreement was cancelled in 2021. He said the company went to court and removed the case in 2024. He said Elsdon's application came on an urgent basis. Makate believes that the application is not urgent.

He said he was confident in how the hearing went. He also said that Raining Men Trade, the company that Elsdon alleged he transferred the agreement to after Black Rock Mining was deregistered in 2014, has the same directors as Black Rock Mining. He added that Raining Man was appointed fraudulently because Elsdon was a director for both Black Rock Mining and Raining Men Trade. He also accused Elsdon of being a fraud.

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Sizwe Dhlomo reacts to the court siding with Vodacom

In a related article, Briefly News reported that radio personality Sizwe Dhlomo commented on the Constitutional Court ruling against Makate on 31 July 2025. Vodacom appeared before the court and applied to have the court overturn the Supreme Court of Appeal's ruling in favour of Makate receiving over R40 billion.

The Constitutional Court overturned the SCA's ruling. Former Chief Deputy Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said he was dissatisfied with some aspects of the ruling. Dhlomo posted his reaction on social media.

"Cha, bayamdakelwa uMakate," he said.

This loosely translates to "no, they did Makate dirty."

Source: Briefly News