The Chief Rabbi’s father, Rabbi Dr Lionel Mirvis, has died in South Africa.

In recent weeks Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis travelled to the country, where he was born, to visit his father during a period of ill-health.

Rabbi Dr Mirvis was a well-known community rabbi in South Africa, serving as the minister of the Claremont and Wynberg Hebrew Congregations in Cape Town.

He was also noted for his preaching against South African apartheid, according to the South African Jewish Report, and for his frequent visits to political prisoners held at Robben Island.

At the same time the Chief Rabbi’s late mother, Freida Mirvis, was the principal of the country’s sole training college for black pre-school teachers.

Although the office of the Chief Rabbi has not commented on Rabbi Dr Mirvis’ death, it is understood he passed away earlier this month, and was in his nineties.

The Chief Rabbi notified United Synagogue rabbis by email last week.