Cape Town - The father of Facebook diva Logan Hartnick is worried that his daughter is being exploited and that the child’s newfound fame is tearing the family apart.
Clifford Carolus says he’s concerned about his 11-year-old girl because she has been absent from school, and has been snapped up by a local theatre group to perform on stage.
The dad claims he even had to call in the help of authorities to be able to see Logan over the weekend, after her mother’s family kept him from seeing her.
Two weeks ago, the Daily Voice tracked the girl to her hometown, Macassar, after her videos caused a buzz on Facebook.
The Grade 4 pupil had people in stitches with her quips and dance moves, after she was apparently blamed for a fire at her house.
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Following the Daily Voice story, Logan gained instant fame and has featured on radio and even on stage.
Already, the Kinders van die Ses group has booked her and made a poster for a show on Friday, called Skut Jou Biscuit at the Gatesville Civic Centre.
Founder Omar “Boeta Maan” Adams told the Daily Voice that Logan will play the role of a child in the show.
He went to meet the family after reading about Logan in the Daily Voice, he says.
“She will play the role of a child and she will dance. She will also have a meet-and-greet session. If anyone wants to donate anything to Logan, they can bring it to the show,” he said.
Video: Tracey Adams/ANA
But Carolus, 43, a fruit seller and tiler, says he knows nothing of these arrangements.
Logan and Clifford usually spend their afternoons together when she comes from school.
“I have been to the social worker, school and the police for help. They [the mother’s family] wanted to keep Logan away from me. I finally got to see her on Sunday,” says Carolus.
“She was not in school last week and she missed her exams. Now she has to catch up with everything. I am not told anything about where she is going to or what shows she’s attending. I am worried about her.”
Logan with grandmother Diana Percent and mom Merna Hartnick. Picture: Tracey Adams/ANA
Logan’s mother, Merna Hartnick, 37, previously said Logan was hospitalised with TB Meningitis when she was three year’s old, and nearly died.
Hartnick is unemployed and has three other children, aged, 15, five and a one-month-old.
Logan’s maternal grandmother Diana Percent says Carolus is a trying to stir up drama.
“He doesn’t pay child support. He is turning other people against us by spreading rumours.”
Percent says Logan is doing well after she was treated for a rash on her body last week.
“She is done with her exams and we are excited because she will be part of a show on Friday.”
Adams says he will be taking Logan under his wing, just like his previous charges including his own sons, Loukmaan and Emo, and comedian Waseef Piekaan.
“I know talent when I see it. I want to teach her drama and how to be on the stage. I am not the type to exploit children. Look at those that came from me. I don’t charge these children for tour trips or their outfits for the show,” he says.