Ex-cop jailed for sexual assault
He was stationed at Umzinto police station where he committed the crimes on two colleagues.
Ex-policeman Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Vivani Zuma has been convicted and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on 13 counts of sexual assault.
The victims in this case were two female officers (a Sergeant and a Constable) from the Umzinto police station, where he served as a station commander.
During the investigation of this case, he served in Port Shepstone.
At his sentencing at the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday last week, Magistrate Pierre Louwrens said that Zuma showed no remorse for his actions and revealed that he mentioned to a social worker that these actions were the results of ‘temptation’.
The 13 counts included Zuma making sexual remarks to the officers, sexual harassment, groping and physical violations to their bodies.
Louwrens emphasised the seriousness of these charges, especially as this was a senior officer abusing his power and manipulating those under him.
He also spoke about how these incidents have affected the victims.
State prosecutor Thiloshnee Naidoo said the victims have life-long trauma, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, mood swings, relationship challenges, as well as financial issues due to travelling back and forth to court and attending disciplinary hearings and seeking medical assistance.
Zuma’s defence initially requested correctional supervision, with the reasons being his health was not good, he was a first-time offender, and he had resigned from the Saps to prevent further tarnishing of the service.
However, he failed to appear for sentencing on three separate occasions. It was claimed it was because of his uncontrolled diabetes.
It was also confirmed that firearms in his possession were seized and that he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Louwrens said that society looks to the court for protection and that Zuma exploited his superiority by showing dominance over vulnerable women.
“He worked with these women on a daily basis, and these counts were not isolated incidents. Therefore, the court found imprisonment more fitting.”
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