Officials fear for Zephany's wellbeing

02 March 2015 - 02:04 By Bobby Jordan
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MEMORY: Zephany as a baby
MEMORY: Zephany as a baby
Image: Supplied

A world-renowned child justice expert flew into Cape Town yesterday to assist a teenager at the centre of one of South Africa's most sensational abduction sagas - amid fears for the child's wellbeing.

Pretoria-based Ann Skelton, former head of the UN Child Justice Project, confirmed she would meet Zephany Nurse, who was stolen from Groote Schuur Hospital in 1997 when she was just three days old.

Zephany, now 17, and her 14-year-old biological sister ended up in the same high school, where students noticed a startling physical resemblance. Police were alerted and the woman Zephany knew as her mother was arrested.

The story has since made international headlines, but the hype has alarmed social welfare officials, who fear for Zephany's psychological welfare.

They say the teenager, who is in protective care, faces a tough mental challenge. She is reportedly close to her "foster" mother, as well as to the biological sister who befriended her at school.

Western Cape MEC for Social Development Albert Fritz threatened legal action yesterday to protect Zephany.

"If necessary I will get a court order to stop the family and friends making comments. Lots of people are offering the story to the media, but they need to think of the trauma this girl is going through," he said.

"The child is very confused. We are very worried. People are not adhering to the agreement to protect the girl."

Skelton, head of the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria, said she needed to talk to Zephany before commenting.

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