A veteran police detective has revealed how he kept alive the 17-year-long search for kidnapped baby Zephany Nurse. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Barkhuizen‚ the investigating officer in the case of the infant who was snatched from her sleeping mother at Groote Schuur Hospital‚ was testifying during sentencing proceedings at the High Court in Cape Town on Thursday.A 52-year-old seamstress from Cape Town‚ who cannot be named to protect Zephany - who she raised under another name - has been convicted of kidnapping and forgery in connection with the case.The detective‚ with 42-years’ experience‚ told the court: “From my personal knowledge‚ I know that babies are kidnapped from hospitals…regularly in the Western Cape.”He said that at least six incidents of babies being snatched at hospitals in the Western Cape had occurred in the past decade.Barkhuizen said Zephany was the 698th person reported missing in the Western Cape in 1997 when she was taken from her sleeping mother in a maternity ward at Groote Schuur Hospital‚ just days after birth. Of those‚ 155 were children‚ seven of whom are yet to be found.He said the search for Zephany was kept alive throughout the 17 years that the abductor raised her through “fresh media coverage” every year. Barkhuizen said this was an attempt to raise awareness about the missing child.“At the time this incident took place‚ we didn’t have specialised units‚” said Barkhuizen. “I think technology plays a role (in the current investigations). The investigation of such cases is much more intense‚ we have specialisation. We have NGOs such as the Pink Ladies. It is easier to give publicity to the case.”He said security at hospitals had since improved.The State called Zephany to testify in aggravation of sentence on Tuesday. However‚ the proceedings were held in camera and so her words are not known to the public. In her plea explanation‚ the kidnapper detailed her numerous attempts to conceive and a number of miscarriages. She claimed that a woman whom she only knew as Sylvia had given her the child and she had paid R3‚000 for the adoption and fertility treatment. She admitted to duping her husband into believing that the child was theirs.The matter has been postponed until next week for argument.Cape Judge President John Hlophe ordered the prosecution and defence to submit their heads of argument by Wednesday next week.“The evidence of Zephany Nurse was heard in camera‚ I don’t want that repeated in the heads of argument‚” Hlophe warned. “I am not stupid‚ I know what evidence was (given).”TMG Digital/Cape Town Bureau..