CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A troubling incident has surfaced at SANAE IV, an isolated Antarctic research base managed by South Africa, where a team member faces allegations of assault and sexual harassment towards colleagues, according to government officials. The individual in question is currently undergoing psychological assessment.
According to a report by the South African Sunday Times, an internal email from a team member was leaked, detailing an escalation in the individual’s behavior, including an attack on the base leader and issuing threats. The email contained an earnest plea for intervention, expressing grave concerns for personal safety, and intimating fears of becoming a potential victim of the individual’s aggression.
The Ministry of Environment, responsible for overseeing these scientific missions, issued a statement confirming that the alleged assault had been reported on February 27. Remote mediation efforts by officials and counselors have been initiated to mend relations at the isolated base, with frequent communication with team members occurring. The ministry noted the accused is cooperating with the psychological evaluation process, has demonstrated remorse, and has extended a formal apology to the alleged victim.
The research team, comprising nine individuals including scientists, a doctor, and engineers, is slated to remain at the base located atop a cliff in Queen Maud Land for approximately 13 months. During this period, they will endure the harsh Antarctic winter, with its six months of darkness beginning in June, while surrounded by an expansive glacial ice sheet over 4,000 kilometers away from South Africa.
A supply ship is expected to arrive in December, following an approximate 10-day voyage from Cape Town, as scheduled by the South African National Antarctic Program. Despite the current situation, authorities have opted against evacuation due to the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions confining the team to the base.
The environment ministry emphasized that all team members underwent pre-departure evaluations, which showed no issues regarding their ability to manage the extreme isolation and environmental conditions of Antarctica. Adjustment periods are acknowledged as common when adapting to such remote and extreme environments.
Historically, similar incidents have occurred, such as in 2017 on Marion Island, another remote South African research location. There, a team member reportedly attacked a colleague’s quarters with an ax, seemingly driven by personal disputes.
In broader context, the National Science Foundation documented in a 2022 report that 59% of women involved in the U.S. Antarctic Program reported experiencing harassment or assault during research missions in Antarctica.
