Researchers at South Africa’s remote Sanae IV base had urged their bosses to let them leave or remove the scientist after he allegedly attacked and sexually harassed colleagues
A scientist in Antarctica accused of assaulting and sexually harassing his colleagues has apologised after they begged to be rescued from the base.
Researchers at South Africa’s remote Sanae IV research station had demanded “immediate action” after the man allegedly hit the base leader and threatened to kill another colleague. Sanae IV is situated on a mountain ridge protruding from a glacier around 50 miles inland, making difficult to reach. The team of nine is reported to have ten months left of their 16 month expedition – but recently told bosses they wanted to leave Antarctica early or have the man ejected over fears for their own safety.
The researchers’ pleas became public knowledge at the weekend when reports first emerged in South African media. Now, the country’s Ministry of Environment has announced that the “remorseful” scientist has apologised to colleagues and put under psychological evaluation.
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The ministry confirmed in a statement on Monday night that the man’s alleged assault on the base leader was reported on February 27. Trained counsellors back in South Africa are said to have intervened remotely “to mediate and restore relationships at the base”. The ministry added: “The alleged perpetrator has willingly participated in further psychological evaluation, has shown remorse and is willingly cooperative.
The statement said all team members had undergone evaluations ahead of the trip to ensure they are able to cope with the “extreme nature of the environment in Antarctica” including the isolation and confinement, and no problems were identified. “It is not uncommon that once individuals arrive at the extremely remote areas where the scientific bases are located, an initial adjustment to the environment is required,” it said.
Those stationed on the base include scientists, a doctor and engineers. It came after one of the team said they were “deeply concerned” about their own safety because of the man’s behaviour, and alleged it had “escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing”.
An email was sent by a team member to authorities last month claiming the man had attacked the base leader and made threats. They alleged that he “physically assaulted” one of the staff members, which they described as 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”, they added. They also said the researcher had been accused of sexual harassment, and that his behaviour had become “increasingly egregious”.
The team is expected to remain at the base until January. Officials are said to be reluctant to organise any evacuations due to the challenging Antarctic weather, though have confirmed they would continue to monitor the situation remotely. The next planned visit by a supply ship is in December, according to the South African National Antarctic programme, and will take around 10 days to travel from Cape Town.
All nine researchers at the base live in close quarters through hostile Antarctic winter, and face total darkness outside for six months from June. The interior temperature is intended to be maintained at 18C, though some parts of the base are often far colder.
Daytime temperatures outside rarely get above -10C during the summer, and can plunge well below -30C during the winter. The base is on a cliff in Queen Maud Land and is surrounded by a glacial ice sheet, more than 2,485 miles from South Africa.
Problems have been previously been reported at another of South Africa’s remote research bases on Marion Island, a South African territory near Antarctica. In 2017, a member of a research team smashed a colleague’s room with an axe over an apparent love triangle, a report to South Africa’s Parliament found. Lawmakers said it appeared the researchers were living in highly stressful conditions.
Similar issues have also been reported on other Antarctic bases. The National Science Foundation, the federal agency that oversees the US’s Antarctic programme, published a report in 2022 which found 59% of women in the U.S. program said the had experienced harassment or assault while on research trips in Antarctica.