UMnumzane Mbatha wazalwa ngomhlaka-8 Meyi 1942 eMthashana e-Vryheid. UMbatha namuhla uthathwa ‘njengobuso’ be-Hilton Hotel (eThekwini) lapho asebenze khona njengomsizi womnyango, phecelezi i-doorman iminyaka engaphezu kuka-16.
UMbatha wafunda eBhekuzulu Primary School eVryheid. Ngo-1953 umndeni wakhe wathuthela eMgungundlovu. Ufunde esikoleni e-Edendale (Ibanga 7) nase-Ashtown Secondary (Ibanga 7-8). Ngo-1959 umndeni wakhe wafudukela e-Cato Manor wasuswa ngenkani e-Cato Manor wahanjiswa KwaMashu. UMnumzane Mbatha uqede Ibanga 9 e-Durban Chestville Government School ngaphambi kokungena kulo mkhakha.
Usebenze ngogesi, phecelezi i-artisan e-Atlas Radio, Arthur Trevor Williams kanye ne-Sugar Terminus. Ngo-1969 uMbatha washiya i-Sugar Terminus wayosebenza e-Dunlop Tires njengomshayeli we-fork lift ngaphambi kokuba anyuselwe esikhundleni sokuba yinduna.
Ngo-1994 u-Obed Mbatha wajoyina i-Hilton Hotel njenge-doorman. Ngo-1996 wakhushulelwa esikhundleni sokuba yinhloko . UMbatha ubonakala kalula emibuthanweni yezokuvakasha ngamabhantshi akhe ahlotshiswe ngamabheji. U-Obed waqala ukuqoqa amabheji ngo-1997 awanikwa izicukuthwane zakwamanye amazwe nezivakashi. Kuze kube manje uneqoqolamabheji angaphezu kuka-1496, angamboza amajakhethi amabili.
Ngo-2014 uMbatha, wayengomunye wabasebenzi abangu-11 base-Hilton kabangu-4 000 abaphethe, abanamalungelo okuthenga, abanamahhotela nabaqashisa izakhiwo kanye nezakhiwo ze-timeshare, ukuwina i-Global Hospitality Company’s Chief Executive Light & Warmth Award . Umklomelo waminyaka yonke okuhlonishwa ngawo kakhulu inkampani, eyasungulelwa ukuphakamisa abasebenzi noma amalungu abeka i-Hilton kubalazwe emhlabeni wonke jikelele ngokungenisa izihambi, ubuqotho, ubuholi kanye nokusebenzisana.
UMbatha nguye kuphela isisebenzi eqenjini lomhlaba onemvume ukufaka amabheji amaningi. “Wonke umuntu ufaka ibheji elilodwa legama. U-Obed ngokukhethekile uyalelwe ukuthi awagqoke wonke, ”kusho uFritz, owengeze ngokuthi umphathi wo-doorman odumile uligugu kulo mkhakha.
UMbatha wamukele izinhloko zombuso ezingenakubalwa, abaholi bomhlaba wonke kanye nama-VIP – nezinkulungwane zezivakashi – kule minyaka edlule ngokumamatheka nebhantshi eligcwele amabheji avela ezivakashini ezivela kuwo wonke umhlaba. Unamabheji angaphezu kuka-1 500 kumajakhethi amabili, ngalinye linesisindo esingu-6.3kg.
UMnumzane Mbatha ungumfundisi e-Lambert Zwane Methodist Church. Uhlala nomndeni wakhe KwaMashu.