Nat Bregman, whom anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela described as his “first white friend,” died in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bregman, who shared an office with Mandela for three years when they both were law clerks at a Johannesburg firm in the 1940s, died July 20. He was 88.

Bregman later combined his professional activities with being a part-time entertainer, particularly in front of Jewish audiences. In his later years he became religiously observant.

Bregman and Mandela, who was jailed for his anti-apartheid activism, renewed their friendship following Mandela’s release from prison in 1990. — jta