Please Call Me millions: The Black Rock enigma

Errol Elsdon, who once represented two different companies, unexpectedly returned to public attention in 2025 as the representative of Black Rock Mining. Black Rock Mining's claim is rooted in a 2011 funding agreement between Nkosana Makate and Chris Schoeman, who agreed to fund Makate's legal battle against Vodacom. Black Rock Mining was nominated in July 2013 to finance Makate's 18-year fight, entitling it to 40% of any winnings should Makate emerge victorious.

Errol Elsdon, currently the face of Black Rock Mining, claims he fulfilled his part of the agreement by contributing R4.39 million, while Makate argues the funders provided less than R8,000. Black Rock Mining only emerged in public spotlight towards the end of last year, shortly after Makate's undisclosed settlement with Vodacom.

However, conflicting information indicates that Elsdon and his associates were involved in various companies related to the case before 2016, including Sterling Rand and Raining Men, which were also represented by Elsdon. Despite Elsdon's claim that the matter was settled for R1 billion, Peter Takaendesa, chief investment officer at Mergence Investment Managers, calculated a different value of R660 million.

In 2020, arbitrator Andrew Mabena ruled in favor of Black Rock Mining, but Elsdon now disputes both his role in the agreement and the existence of the company, which he claims was deregistered in the British Virgin Islands in 2014 before being reinstated in 2020. The recent legal dispute between Elsdon and Makate includes questions about the legitimacy of Black Rock Mining's registration and Elsdon's authority to act on its behalf.