Family reacts to SA hostage Stephen McGowan's release
The father of former South African captive, Stephen McGowan has thanked everyone who was involved in bringing his son back home safely.
This morning, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane announced McGowan's release at cabinet briefing in Pretoria.
McGowan was taken hostage by Al-Qaeda in November 2011 while on holiday in Mali.
His father, Malcolm McGowan says it was a big surprise when his son walked through the door.
"When I gave him a hug, he felt a sound and as strong as before, so he was well treated up there. Obviously the joy of the miracle that happened, we cannot describe it unless you have traveled the road you really don't know what its like. I think we tried to keep my wife going by continually saying his coming home, but it didn't quite work out the way we wanted," he says.
Stephan's mother passed away in May.
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McGowan's wife, Catherine says hope kept her going.
"Hope is a funny thing - you are hopeful and then you get bad news and you are despondent but yet you still have hope. You get back on track again and then you believe he is going to come home and he doesn't - but you still keep believing," she says.
Nkoana-Mashabane says he was released unconditionally.
Listen to the full bulletin below: