Aly Verbaan
A BIZARRE coincidence that reunited 17-year-old Zephany Nurse with her biological family has captured the imagination of the public – and the fact that she lived mere kilometres from her biological family for so long is just as odd.
Zephany was traced nearly 18 years after she was abducted from her mother Celeste’s arms at Groote Schuur Hospital in 1977.
This year one of her biological sisters started attending the same school and the resemblance was so striking it was virtually a foregone conclusion that the two were related. The Nurse family invited Zephany to their house and were immediately convinced she was their long-lost child.
DNA tests proved that Zephany was in fact Morné and Celeste Nurse’s daughter.
But it is not necessarily a tale of happiness and miracles. Zephany is now in the custody of the Department of Social Development after police obtained a search warrant and permission to perform DNA tests. Sihle Ngobese, spokesperson for the regional Department of Social Development, said that in the teenager’s interests and to preserve her privacy during this time, she had been placed in a safe home and had requested to stay under the supervision of a social worker.
“Short, planned visits and interaction sessions took place this weekend between the biological family and the teen. These are designed to begin the process of creating a comfortable environment for the family to begin bonding. The department is currently making arrangements and in the interim plans are in place to assist with a tutor and bring schoolwork to her, with the plan to eventually assist her to return to school,” Ngobese said.
The department will work with the biological family and respect the teen’s wishes, and systematically facilitate the introduction and building of a relationship between her and her real parents, he said.
“We will also provide counselling to the accused woman’s husband.”
It is unclear why the matter hasn’t yet been brought before the Children’s Court, but the Nurse family will have to make an application for it to be heard.
Zephany is not expected to testify, unless other factors are involved, such as neglect or abuse. After the hearing it will be decided where the best place for Zephany will be, taking her wishes into account.
Zephany’s abductor will appear in court again on Friday and there is concern that the teenager may be unable to cope with what came as a complete shock to her. The accused was denied bail and remains in custody.
Family lawyer Julia Anderssen said it was even possible she would prefer to remain with her non-biological mother until she was jailed, since she had absolutely no relationship with her biological family yet.
However, the Nurses are responsible for Zephany from this point on.
Zephany turns 18 next month. Anderssen, however, thinks Zephany will be placed a foster-care situation until she has recovered sufficiently from the trauma.
UCT psychology lecturer Terence Dowdall said: “She will be in shock and possibly denial, facing issues of anger, depression and even betrayal. The damage to one’s identity is astronomical.”