Rexon ‘Scotch’ Mathebula

Rexon Mathebula also known as Scotch was born on 15 April 1926 in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. Mathebula left Sophiatown when he was seven years old and went to live with an aunt at Letaba, Tzaneen in the Northern Transvaal (presently known as Limpopo Province) until he was fifteen or sixteen years old. He spent the next nine years in the Duiwelskloof area engaged as a domestic worker and the following five years on a farm in Hoedspruit translating from Afrikaans into Sotho and Shangaan. Mathebula never attended school and had no art training. He moved to Glencoe in Natal and worked as a driver and then in a coalmine for six months. In 1957 he moved to Empangeni in Natal where he worked initially on a sugar estate and then as a domestic worker.

Between 1963 and 1969 he worked for the railways in Empangeni, the last formal job he held. Mathebula started drawing in 1964, when he found a tin of red paint and a lump of tar, which he used to make images on pieces of glass he had also found randomly. He sold these first artworks for 75c each. He continued to work on glass and sold the works locally. In 1973, he moved to KwaDlangenza in Zululand and in 1978 he met Jo Thorpe of the African Art Centre in Durban who encouraged him. Mathebula had no schooling or formal art training, but supported himself through the sale of his artwork. His work was recognised by Mrs Nene, who encouraged him to exhibit his work in the Students Union at the University of Zululand (UZ). His art is represented in public and private collections in SA.

Exhibitions:

1973: KwaDlangenza, Zululand.

1976: Newark, Zululand.

1984: UZ (African Art Festival ”” group).

1987: Johannesburg Art Foundation (solo).

Awards:

1984: UZ African Art Festival (award).

Collections:

KC; Shell, Cape Town; UZ.