Zephany’s kidnapper sentenced to 10 years

The Seawinds woman convicted of kidnapping Zephany Nurse in 1997 has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Judge John Hlope handed down the sentence to the 52-year-old woman at the Western Cape High Court on Monday August 15.

She was convicted of fraud, kidnapping and contravention of sections of the Children’s Act for stealing three-day old Zephany while she slept in her mother Celeste’s arms at Groote Schuur Hospital 19 years ago.

Zephany’s real identity was discovered last year when the teen, who was in matric, be-friended her biological sister at the school they both attended, and was shocked at the stri- king resemblance between them.

After some investigating by Zephany’s biological father, Morne, DNA tests revealed she was their kidnapped daugh- ter.

The accused has maintained her innocence and claims the baby was given to her by a woman whom she only knew has Sylvia.

In a video posted by the Cape Times, Zephany’s biological mother Celeste Nurse was emotional outside court after proceedings. “I am upset and devastated. I lost my daughter and no amount of years can bring her back,” she said.

“She (the accused) has been sentenced but the damage has been done.”

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