Thanks, I'm doing fine, says Zephany

The Cape Town teenager caught in a tug-of-war between her biological parents and the family who raised her after she was stolen as an infant has spoken out.

Zephany Nurse, 17, released a short statement yesterday thanking the people who have supported her during the saga.

The woman who has raised Zephany was arrested last week after DNA tests showed the girl was the biological daughter of a woman whose three-day-old baby was snatched from her bedside at Groote Schuur Hospital almost 18 years ago.

The link was made after Zephany's 14-year-old biological sister started attending the same Cape Town high school as her, and other pupils noticed a startling resemblance. Police were called. The woman Zephany knew as her mother was arrested.

Zephany, who is living at a place of safety, released a statement via Ann Skelton, the director of the centre for Child Law at Pretoria University.

"I want to say thank you to all the people who supported me through this, for continuously praying for me and never giving up on looking for me," the statement read.

"Under the circumstances I am doing fine. There are a lot of emotions and thoughts that I am dealing with, but as I understand the situation, I know I can deal with this."

The woman charged with stealing Zephany - who cannot be named - is due back in court on Friday.