Makgatho Mandela, the only surviving son of former South African president Nelson Mandela, died today in a Johannesburg hospital of an undisclosed illness. He was 54.

Mandela's first son, Madiba Thembekile, died in a car crash back in 1969 while the anti-aparthied leader was still in prison. He asked for permission to attend the funeral but was denied the right to go by the all-white South African government.

Makgatho Mandela was a lawyer who worked with insurance companies and kept a very low political profile. He was married twice and had three sons. Makgatho Mandela's wife died on pneumonia in July of 2003. The cause of Makgatho's death was being kept private.

While Nelson Mandela has retired from politics, he is still active in many causes including the fight against AIDS which is an epidemic in South Africa. The former South African president is scheduled to hold a press conference later today to discuss his son's passing.