Zuko Komisa
Ismail Ayob, the veteran lawyer renowned for his role as the personal legal representative to Nelson Mandela, has died in Johannesburg at the age of 83.
His passing marks the end of a career that placed him at the heart of South Africa’s liberation history, serving as a critical link between the imprisoned ANC leadership and the outside world.
During the 1970s, Ayob held the unique and precarious position of being the only lawyer permitted to visit Mandela during his incarceration on Robben Island.
Beyond this pivotal role, he served as the primary legal counsel to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela for many years and represented numerous other political prisoners targeted by the apartheid state.
Ayob continued to manage Mandela’s personal and legal affairs for several years following his release in 1990.
His five-decade legacy is defined by his steadfast commitment to the Mandela family and his navigation of a hostile judicial system to protect the leaders of the resistance movement.
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The post Ismail Ayob: Nelson Mandela’s trusted legal counsel dies at age 83 appeared first on KAYA 959.
