SAfm — A South African man who was held hostage by Al-Qaeda in Mali since 2011 has been freed. This was announced earlier today during a press briefing in Pretoria. Stephen McGown was grabbed in Timbuktu along with Swede Johan Gustafsson and Dutchman Sjaak Rijke, both of whom were subsequently released. McGown has returned to South Africa and been reunited with his family. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Imtiaz Sooliman, chairman of the Gift of the Givers. But first take a listen to State Security Minister David Mahlobo explaining how that no ransom was paid to secure McGown's release...