The Scottburgh District Court has sentenced Vivani Vivian Zuma (55) to six years of direct imprisonment for the sexual assault of two female subordinates in 2018 and 2019.
At the time of the offenses, Zuma held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as the Station Commander at Umzinto Police Station.
Between August 2018 and September 2019, Zuma engaged in multiple acts of sexual misconduct.
The first victim was frequently summoned to his office, where he insisted on kissing and hugging her while also touching her inappropriately.
The second victim was assaulted in August 2018 and again in September 2019, during which Zuma exhibited similarly inappropriate behavior.
Zuma denied the charges, claiming he was in a consensual relationship with the complainants. However, the court dismissed his defense as false and not reasonably possible.
State Prosecutor Thiloshnee Naidoo led the evidence, including testimonies from the victims and their colleagues who were the first to hear their reports.
The court also considered Victim Impact Statements, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nokukhanya Truth Mkhize.
One victim detailed how the assault led to post-traumatic stress, depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, while the other reported incurring medical expenses for counseling and experiencing severe social withdrawal and panic attacks.
In addition to his prison sentence, Zuma was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
