Zephany’s ‘kidnap family’ reeling

Cape Town File picture Celeste Nurse in hospital with Zephany before she was abducted from Groote Schuur hospital on 30 April 1997 when she was just 2 days old pix Patrick louw story Shellee Geduld

Cape Town File picture Celeste Nurse in hospital with Zephany before she was abducted from Groote Schuur hospital on 30 April 1997 when she was just 2 days old pix Patrick louw story Shellee Geduld

Published Mar 1, 2015

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Cape Town - The family that watched Zephany Nurse grow up, believing she was one of their own, is struggling to accept she is not related to them.

On Saturday a relation of the man they thought was Zephany’s father said: “We can’t believe it. This isn’t real. We’re in such shock. We are just so shocked.”

Speaking at the Lavender Hill home where Zephany lived until earlier this week, he said the man the family had believed was her father was on Saturday “helping detectives in Bellville”.

The man’s wife, aged 50, on Friday appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on charges of abducting Zephany when the girl was three days old on April 30, 1997.

This week it emerged that an extraordinary series of events led to Zephany being reunited with her biological family after17 years – she attended the same high school as her biological sister and the two girls had become friends.

Others commented on how they looked alike and Zephany’s biological father, who met Zephany through her friendship with his younger daughter, heard her birth date and became suspicious.

Police were alerted and this week DNA test results confirmed the girl was Zephany.

On Saturday the relation, who had believed Zephany was a blood relative, said the family was reeling.

“We just can’t believe it. I mean when does something like this happen?”

 

The relative said the family would discuss getting a spokesperson to help them as they were not ready to deal with the media.

“It’s all too much. We’re just shocked.”

 

Social welfare officials have been caring for Zephany since her true identity was revealed. The woman accused of abducting her is expected back in court on Friday.

Weekend Argus

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