Prominent lawyer Ismail Ayob has passed away

Prominent lawyer Ismail Ayob has died at the age of 83.

Ayob was known for representing anti-apartheid activists in his career.

The circumstances around his passing remain unclear.

Ayob was known for his work in representing anti-apartheid activists, including former President Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Ayob represented Madikizela-Mandela in her murder and kidnapping case of 14-year-old Stompie Seipei, and was reportedly also one of the few people allowed to visit Mandela while he was incarcerated on Robben Island.

But his relationship with the former president turned sour after series of legal disputes between them.

In 2005, he was removed from the Nelson Mandela Trust after a court battle over the unauthorised sale of Mandela art works.

Ayob will be laid to rest on Thursday afternoon at the Westpark Cemetery