Fears that TNA article could put Zephany at risk
In reporting on Zephany Nurse's pregnancy The New Age may have revealed information which could help identify the teen.
|||Cape Town - The Centre for Child Law is considering legal action following a possible breach of a North Gauteng court order after a newspaper revealed information that could lead to the discovery of Zephany Nurse’s real identity.
This, after the New Age reported on the 19 year-old’s pregnancy, just a day after closing arguments were heard in the Western Cape High Court.
The 52-year-old Lavender Hill seamstress convicted of kidnapping, fraud and contravening section of the Children’s Act could face 10 years direct imprisonment.
Zephany’s legal representative, Ann Skelton, said she was concerned that the name of the teen’s aunt was mentioned in the newspaper. She said this was a breach of the high court order granted in April last year which prevented media houses from revealing Zephany’s real name or any information that may reveal her identity.
The high court order is also the reason why the name of the woman convicted of snatching Zephany from her cot at a maternity ward at Groote Schuur hospital in 1997, was never mentioned in the media.
“The media coverage by the newspaper was inappropriate, the New Age is skating on thin ice,” she said.
Skelton is discussing the matter with Steven Budlender of the Joburg bar, who argued the initial application in the North Gauteng High Court that secured the court order.
The article that broke the news on Friday, mentions a single source - which is Zephany’s aunt - accompanied by a headline that gives the impression that Zephany had spoken to the newspaper.
“The report itself says that the reporter did not speak to Zephany and rather the aunt. Pregnancy news is not in the public interest - in what way does it contribute to understanding the case and the sentencing process? This young girl's dignity and privacy is being trampled,” said Skelton.
The man who helped raise Zephany said he was distraught about the manner in which the news was broken, saying that he was concerned about the impact it might have on her.
“She is not happy about her privacy being exposed like this. Some media reports really upset her, it is making it more difficult for her,” he said.
Skelton cited another instance where the same publication had published a statement made by Zephany which related to the testimony she gave in court.
Judge Hlophe was adamant that any mention of Zephany's testimony would be in contempt of court. “The newspaper might also be in contravention of Judge Hlophe's order,” said Skelton.
Zephany’s biological mother, Celeste Nurse, would not speak to the Cape Argus. Zephany is around the same age Celeste was when she was snatched from her mother.
Her father, Morne Nurse, did not answer calls after multiple attempts.
Zephany was reunited with her biological parents 17 years after she was kidnapped. The woman that raised her denies taking Zephany. According to her version, a woman only known as “Sylvia” handed her a baby at a train station in Wynberg.
She will be sentenced on Monday.
gadeeja.abbas@inl.co.za
Cape Argus