Overview

• An unnamed researcher at the Sanae IV Antarctic base has been accused of physically assaulting a colleague, sexually assaulting another, and threatening to kill team members.
• The team, consisting of 10 members, is isolated and cannot be evacuated until December 2025 due to extreme weather and ice conditions.
• South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has launched an investigation and is providing counseling and conflict-resolution support to the team.
• Concerns about the accused researcher's behavior were reportedly raised before the team became stranded, but no action was taken at the time.
• The incident has highlighted the psychological challenges of extreme isolation and raised questions about the adequacy of pre-deployment psychological screening for Antarctic expeditions.