He trained as a potter in the Ceramic Workshop at the ELC Art and Craft Centre, together with Ephraim Ziqubu, Joel Sibisi and L. Mabaso.
These potters all had a similar approach to decoration, but each retained individuality of form. Mbatha often chose the bowl form to decorate with figures and animals.
His work shown on the 1970 exhibition entitled ELC Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift held at the Durban Art Gallery.
It was acquired off that exhibition for the permanent collection of that Gallery. He is represented in art museum collections in SA and abroad.