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Prof ZK Matthews' House
Dikene (Alice), Eastern Cape
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Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | Prof ZK Matthews' House | | ||||||
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Click to view map Coordinates: | Prof Z K Matthews’ House. Introduction Zachariah Keodirelang Matthews (20 October 1901 – 11 May 1968) was a prominent academic in South Africa. Born near Kimberley in the Northern Cape he was to become the most influential black academic of his time. He was schooled at Lovedale, a missionary institution, and after his university education at Fort Hare and UNISA, attended Yale and the London School of Economics. In the period from 1936 to 1959, Matthews worked as an academic at Fort Hare. In 1960 he practised as an attorney in Alice. He also held senior positions in the ANC and participated in the defining democratic event of the 1950s, the Congress of the People, and the compilation of its guiding document, the Freedom Charter. He retired to Botswana in 1965 and the following year was appointed Botswana's Ambassador to the United States, where he died two years later. A detailed chronology of ZK Matthews' life has been transcribed below. The periods when he presumably resided at the house, have been highlighted in bold.
Reference: Wilson, Monica (editor). "Freedom for my people", Autobiography of Z.K. Matthews, New Africa Books,1981. Prof Z K Matthews's house clearly has a major significance but it is currently (2025) badly dilapidated and neglected. Fortunately the property has a live-in guard to protect it from further destruction and demolition by neglect. The house is certainly recoverable and could be restored and made fit for purpose. Site Description The property comprises two narrow linear erven, Erf 168 and Erf 181. The house is situated on Erf 181. Erf 181 was subdivision No. 1 of suburban Lot No 86, bounded on the northeast by Gagha Road, on the northwest by Subdivision no 2 (which would be come Erf 168), on the southwest by a watercourse and on the southeast by Lot No 84. The SG diagram records that Subdivision 1 of Lot No 86 was surveyed by the Government Surveyor, William T Brown on 11 July 1857.
The vehicle entrance from Gahga Road is situated on Erf 168 as is the more modern double garage The title deeds of the two properties over time remain to be consulted to determine the formal ownership of the house over time. Architectural Description The architectural description is based on the evidence visible on site, on a 'reading' of the three dimensional architectural form of the building and on the plan layout described in the as-built drawing. Unfortunately no original drawings or archive photographs have been found, nor have any contemporary written descriptions been located. The original core of the building, circa 1880 or earlier, had a simple linear rectangular plan under a double pitched corrugated iron roof. The accommodation then would have consisted of a central passage flanked on both sides by two interconnected rooms. The entrance door led into the central passage which formed a transverse route through the house. The original house was constructed on a stone foundation wall with 340 mm thick plastered external walls and 260 mm thick plastered internal walls. An early rectangular outbuilding was constructed immediately to the west side of the house. It is most likely that the house originally had a narrow verandah along the full extent of the east side, probably supported on timber columns. It is also possible that each of the four rooms facing onto the front verandah were provided with French doors or tall sliding sash windows onto the verandah but this suggestion remains to be confirmed. A contemporary (or slightly later) lean-to extension on the west side provided additional rooms, one of which was almost certainly a kitchen with an attached pantry.
A pair of stoepkamers (translated from the Afrikaans : verandah rooms) were added circa 1935, one onto each end of the east elevation, thereby shortening the extent of the front verandah. The stoepkamers were each roofed with a hipped and gabled extension of the corrugated roof. Each of the stoepkamers was provided with an external door opening onto the intervening verandah, and each was provided with an opening into the adjoining room – but possibly at some later date. It is likely that the small porch was also added onto the west elevation and that the three sets of built in cupboards extant in the house were constructed at this time.
A modern double garage was constructed as an outbuilding on the north side of the property, circa 1970. Conclusion The house in its current condition is dilapidated and neglected, but is certainly recoverable and can be refurbished. Many of the internal doors have been damaged but generally all are salvageable. Most of the windows are now steel casements and are all recoverable or could be replaced by more appropriate timber windows. Certain of the ceilings have been damaged but all can be reinstated. The chimneys are deteriorated but can be restored. The original suspended timber floors have largely been removed and it would be recommended that the modern concrete floors be uplifted and the suspended timber floors reinstalled. The damaged Amathole Heritage Initiative signboard mounted on a pole in the street should be replaced with a new sign. The oval Amathole Heritage Route plaque mounted on the external elevation should be replaced with a blue ceramic or similar plaque to ensure it does not become dilapidated in the future. The layout of the garden should be reinstated and the site maintained. An ongoing and meaningful use of the house must be found to ensure its future long term conservation. William Martinson, April 2025. Note: |
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