The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein ruled on Tuesday that Vodacom's offer of $2 million to Makate was invalid and ordered the company to make a new offer within 30 days.

Makate, who claims he came up with the idea of the free SMS service in 2000, has accused Vodacom of corporate thuggery and fraud, alleging that some individuals within the company stole his intellectual property and exported it overseas.

He also said that many other people have suffered similar injustices at the hands of Vodacom, but could not afford to pursue their cases. Vodacom, however, maintains that it has acted in good faith and that it will defend its position in the Constitutional Court.

--SABC--