South African scientists at isolated Antarctica base plead for help after alleged assault by colleague

Scientists at a remote base in Antarctica have pleaded for help, saying they’re living in fear after an alleged assault by a member of the team.

Scientists at a remote base in Antarctica have pleaded for help, saying they’re living in fear after an alleged assault by a member of the team.

The 10-person team from South Africa are stuck at the country’s SANAE IV research station, located about 170 kilometres south of Antarctica’s ice shelf and more than 4000 kilometres from Cape Town, and are not due to be relieved until December as ice and winter storms close in, according to the Sunday Times.

An email containing the allegations was sent from the base last month and shared with the South African newspaper this week.

South Africa’s government has confirmed “there was an assault” following earlier reports of inappropriate behaviour at the camp and it was responding with “utmost urgency”, the BBC reports.

The person making the allegations said they feared for their own and their colleagues’ safety and pleaded for “immediate action”.

“Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing,” read the email, which removed all names.

“Specifically, he physically assaulted [name withheld], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms. Furthermore, he threatened to kill [name withheld], creating an environment of fear and intimidation. I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim. It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”

South Africa’s Sanae IV Antarctica base. Picture: Dr Ross Hofmeyr

The team was dropped off by South Africa’s SA Agulhas II ship in late December and the boat departed a month later.

The email said “numerous concerns” had been raised about the alleged attacker in that time.

The ship is not due to make the 10 to 15-day journey from Cape Town to pick up the group and drop off a new team until December.

South Africa’s environment minister, Dion George, whose department manages the Antarctic program, confirmed to The Guardian an alleged assault had taken place and that he was “considering options”.

“An intervention is in place,” he said. “The person who assaulted the team leader is remorseful and has been psychologically re-evaluated willingly.”

Mr George said the alleged assault was triggered by “a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do — a weather-dependent task that required a schedule change”.

A spokesperson for South Africa’s department of forestry, fisheries and the environment said, “The wellness unit is in contact with the team at the base on a continuous basis to find solutions and sustainable way forward for the wellbeing of the team members located in that remote base. A full investigation is currently being commissioned and the department will act accordingly in relation to any wrong conduct against any official that has misconducted themselves.”

The team is not due to be relieved until December. Picture: Alamy

In a separate statement to the BBC, the environment ministry said the team had been subject to and cleared “a number of evaluations that include background checks, reference checks, medical assessment as well as a psychometric evaluation by qualified professionals”.

It added “all was in order” when the vessel departed on February 1 but it was “not uncommon” for individuals to have an initial adjustment when they arrive in extremely remote areas.

The incident was first reported to the ministry on February 27 and the department “immediately activated the response plan in order to mediate and restore relations at the base”.

“This process has been ongoing on an almost daily basis in order to ensure that those on the base know that the department is supportive and willing to do whatever is needed to restore the interpersonal relationships, but also firm in dealing with issues of discipline,” it said.

Allegations of sexual harassment were also being investigated but reports of sexual assault were incorrect, the department said.

South African researchers, not the current team, pictured at SANAE IV in 2014. Picture: Alamy

The alleged perpetrator has “willingly participated in further psychological evaluation, has shown remorse and is willingly cooperative to follow any interventions that are recommended” and has written a formal apology to the victim, it added.

South Africa’s SANAE IV base, which it took over from Norway in 1960, consists of three 44 metre long and 14 metre wide two-storey buildings.

The scientific station studies the Earth’s electromagnetic fields as well as Antarctic geology and biodiversity.

Violent incidents in Antarctica are rare but occur from time to time.

In 2017, a South African team member stationed on Marion Island allegedly attacked a colleague’s laptop with an axe over a romantic dispute, and in 2018 there were reports of a stabbing at Russia’s Bellingshausen station.

Gabrielle Walker, a scientist and author who has been on expeditions to Antarctica, told the BBC working so close to a small group of colleagues had risks.

“You know exactly how they put their coffee cup down and what direction the handle points in, you know that they scratch their nose three times before they sit down, you know everything about them,” she said.

“And in the bad circumstances, it can start to irritate you … because there’s nothing else — there’s no other stimulus and you’re with people 24/7.”