The controversial Luyt was a South African business tycoon, politician, and rugby administrator.

In 1976 Luyt founded The Citizen newspaper. It was later revealed that the money used to establish and finance the newspaper had come from the Department of Defence, in a scandal that was later known as infogate.

Within hours of his death, tributes were flowing on Twitter.

Jhanvi Singh (@Jhanvisingh ) tweeted: "During apartheid, the world missed SA more than SA missed the world - the late Louis Luyt."

Brandon Ryan (@BrandonRyan8) said: "RIP Louis Luyt... Lions have never been the same since you left."

@MandyWiener said: "Louis Luyt. The only man to force a sitting President, Mandela no less, to take the witness stand in court."