THE eNseleni father accused of kidnapping his five-year-old daughter, Ashley De Jager, seeks justice for his ‘wrongful’ arrest and wants his daughter back home in South Africa.
During his recent interview with the Zululand Observer, Neels De Jager, said he was determined to clear his tarnished name.
‘I have made mistakes in my life, but I have always been a good father,’ he said.
De Jager was arrested last month, five days after his daughter was reported missing from their house in eNseleni. He was accused of ‘kidnapping’ the girl from her mother in Mozambique five years ago.
‘My child is a South African citizen, I couldn’t have kidnapped her. I am now in a process of collecting all documents proving that she belongs here. She was born in Nelspruit and all documents prove that,’ he said.
‘I have worked hard for my daughter, providing food, schooling and love for her. I won’t rest until she is back home where she belongs,’ said De Jager.
He also said the police have not done a proper job regarding his daughter’s case.
‘They should be looking for her because nobody is sure that she is with her mother. But instead, I was arrested. I have spoken to my lawyer and I will be opening a civil case for my unlawful arrest and my tarnished name.
‘I appeared in newspapers like I was a criminal, meanwhile it’s the mother who took my child without my consent.’
De Jager said his reason for taking his daughter from the mother was motivated.
He claims she had taken the girl to a sangoma which resulted in cuts on her (the daughter’s) chest.
Empangeni Family Violence Child Protection Unit (FCS), Colonel Makhosi Ncube, said Ashley was safe with her mother in Mozambique and the case was handed to Interpol .
