Stephen McGown, the South African man kidnapped by al-Qaeda in Timbuktu, Mali, in 2011 and kept in captivity, has been released. International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane announced on Thursday that McGown was now home and receiving counselling. The minister said the family, civil society organisations and the government had been lobbying for his release for a number of years, but insisted that no ransom was paid. Nkoana-Mashabane appealed to the media to give McGown and his family the space to recover from his experience. In May‚ his family sent a message of hope to mark 2‚000 days since McGown and Swede Johan Gustafsson were captured in Timbuktu by al-Qaeda. His father Malcolm told TimesLIVE this what was he wanted to convey to his son: “Hang in there. Be strong. Life is worth living‚ so live day by day.” McGown was abducted while seated in a restaurant in Timbuktu. He was in a country as a tourist‚ travelling by motorcycle. “This was supposed to be h...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.