'Six years with Al Qaeda: The Stephen McGown Story' provides a compelling look at McGown's strength, fortitude and adaptability along with his instincts that guided his survival during his six-year ordeal, writes Vanessa Banton.
I can't remember where I first heard that a South African had been taken captive in Timbuktu, Mali. I do remember the details though.
Three men, a Dutch citizen, a Swede and a South African, Stephen McGown, were taken by force from a place they were staying at in Timbuktu, while a German man who refused to go with the hostage takers was brazenly killed in the dusty streets.