She’s my everything - Zephany’s dad
Zephany Nurse's biological dad Morne has revealed the joy of finally getting to know his "precious princess".
|||Cape Town - Finding his kidnapped daughter after 18 heartbreaking years was the best day of his life, said Morné Nurse.
The biological father of Zephany Nurse, who was stolen from hospital when she was just three days old, said it’s been wonderful getting to know his “precious princess” since she was found seven months ago.
“Sy is my alles, (She is my everything)” said Morné in an exclusive interview with the Daily Voice, in which he spoke out about his relationship with Zephany for the first time.
With a big smile he added: “I spoke to her not too long ago... I said to her, ‘[how can) you miss someone you don’t even know’, and she laughed, it’s true.
“They always say the girls, hulle is die pa se kinders (they are the fathers’ children).”
At the tender age of 20, Morné was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his first child, a little girl, at the Groote Schuur Hospital.
But his introduction to fatherhood became every parent’s worst nightmare.
Little Zephany was snatched, and for the next 17 years, Morné and his ex-wife Celeste would commemorate her birthday, never losing hope of finding her again.
The couple had three children after Zephany – Cassidy, 14, Joshua, 9, and Micah, 7.
Now, 18 years later, Morné said it was like a part of his daughter had never left.
He said intelligent people even have a word for it, it’s called “blood core” – a genetic DNA bond which defies logic and time, so that even when blood relations have never met, they would still “recognise” each other.
Morné said that through all the years his child was gone, he missed her even though he didn’t know her.
“The professor explained it is that blood core, she is my firstborn,” said the dad.
Morné is very protective towards his daughter, and doesn’t easily share details about their new life.
But when he does talk about her, there is a glow on his face, and a look of pride that shows just how much he adores her.
He makes it clear that Zephany is an adult, a sensible young woman who is making the best of a very traumatic situation.
Morné said the teen has been getting to know her real family at her own pace, with “no pressure”.
“Zephany is an adult, and she makes her own decisions in life,” he said.
“She knows that I love her, she knows that I am her father, her biological father. She also knows she can turn to me whenever she wants to.
“I always told her, ‘if you need anything, daddy is here for you.’”
Morné said they’ve all been emotionally wrecked, but have been receiving counselling.
“I see her from time to time, it’s small steps, man. It’s not going to happen overnight,” he said.
“I don’t apply pressure on Zephany in any way, out of the respect that I’ve got for her, I actually know what she is going through. It’s not easy, it is tough.”
The sales rep, who divorced his wife last year, said he financially supports all his children, including Zephany.
“I do give Zephany support financially, but I’ve always said it is not my place to speak about it to anyone,” he said.
“She knows what I am talking about. I don’t feel the need to tell people when and what I give her.”
Zephany was found in February after she and her sister Cassidy became friends at their high school in Retreat.
The girls bore a striking resemblance, and after meeting Zephany, Morné called in the Hawks.
DNA tests proved Zephany was the Nurses’ long-lost daughter, and the woman who allegedly kidnapped her was arrested.
In what could be the most sensational trial of the decade, the matter has been moved to the Western Cape High Court, where a trial date has yet to be set.
Daily Voice