Antartica Research Station: send help (violence, threats, and sexual assult)

AJUMP23

Parody of actual AJUMP23

A member of a South African research team on a remote Antarctic base has accused a colleague of physical assault and making a death threat, pleading for “immediate action” to be taken.

The accusations were made in an email sent from the base that was shared with the South African newspaper the Sunday Times.


The person making the allegations said they feared for their own and their colleagues’ safety at South Africa’s Sanae IV research base, demanding “immediate action”, the newspaper reported, quoting an email it said was sent last month.

South Africa’s environment minister, Dion George, whose department manages the country’s Antarctic programme, confirmed that an assault had taken place and that he was “considering options”, without specifying what these were.

A group picture of the researchers at the Sanae IV research station

A group picture of the researchers at the Sanae IV research station. Photograph: Alamy
“An intervention is in place,” he said. “The person who assaulted the team leader is remorseful and has been psychologically re-evaluated willingly.” Asked what triggered the alleged assault, George said: “It was a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do – a weather-dependent task that required a schedule change.”

The 10-person team is not due to be relieved until December, as ice and winter storms close in on the base, which is about 100 miles south of Antarctica’s ice shelf and more than 2,600 miles south of Cape Town.

The email quoted by the Sunday Times, which removed all names, said: “Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. 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.”

The email demanded: “It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”

It said “numerous concerns” had been raised about the alleged attacker, between the team being dropped off in Antarctica by South Africa’s SA Agulhas II ship in late December and the boat departing a little over a month later.

The SA Agulhas II is not due to make the 10- to 15-day journey from Cape Town to pick up the overwintering team and drop off a new team until December. There is a German base, the Neumayer Station III, about 137 miles north-west of South Africa’s station. Farther inland, about 118 miles south-east, is Norway’s Troll Base.

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.”

South Africa first established a scientific station in Antarctica in 1960, when it took over a Norwegian base. Researchers at the base, which comprises three linked, double-storey buildings, 44 metres long by 14 metres wide, study the Earth’s electromagnetic fields, as well as Antarctic geology and biodiversity.

South Africa also has research stations on Marion Island, 1,300 miles south-east of Cape Town, and Gough Island, 1,600 miles south-west of the Cape of Good Hope, where it leases land from Britain, due to the latter’s control of Saint Helena.

It is not the first time that one of South Africa’s Antarctic teams has been involved in a violent controversy. In 2017, a Marion Island research team member allegedly attacked a colleague’s laptop with an axe, after a woman involved with the colleague turned down his marriage proposal.

A real-life horror movie is playing out at South Africa's isolated Antarctica base where one of the 10-member overwintering team faces accusations of being mentally unstable and violent, prompting intervention by the government.


Scientists at a remote research base in Antarctica have pleaded for their rescue, alleging assault, sexual harassment and death threats from a team member they say is mentally unstable.


The problems at the isolated SANAE IV base were first reported by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, which said it had seen an email from a team member to authorities last month claiming the man had attacked the base leader and made threats.

The email pleaded for help.

“His behavior has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing,” the email said, according to the Sunday Times. “I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.”

The report alleged the man made a death threat and accused the team member of sexually assaulting another.


“Furthermore, he threatened to kill [another team member], creating an environment of fear and intimidation,” the unnamed researcher wrote.
The writer said it is now “imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”


Rough to be stuck in isolation with someone going insane. The mountains of madness.
 

Mistake

Member
I saw it was like three women and all men. So basically, they put a handful of testosterone in a solitary tundra for an extended period of time and expected everyone to remain celibate. For a bunch of scientists they aren't too bright
 
Last edited:

ssringo

Member
Read about this yesterday (or the day before). From what I read that while this is concerning and should be dealt with, it's not the first time there's been an issue with threats of violence and people being evacuated. It's a small group of people living in isolation with each other.
 

Ovek

7Member7
It's got to be brutal being isolated and effectively stuck in a small environment with a small group of people. I can also see why that would be scary as fuck when one of them starts going mental.

Surprised if they don't go through some serious vetting and phycological tests before they go.
 
Last edited:

Puscifer

Member
If I remember correctly this was already taken care of the supposed sexual assault never happened but was used to get attention to get him to calm down and receive a faster response.
 

AJUMP23

Parody of actual AJUMP23
It's got to be brutal being isolated and effectively stuck in a small environment with a small group of people. I can also see why that would be scary as fuck when one of them starts going mental.

Surprised if they don't go through some serious vetting and phycological tests before they go.

This is where I was, I thought it was similar to that woman who started tearing up the space station because she wanted to leave.
 

winjer

Gold Member
Extreme cold can do very strange things to the mind. So these things are to be expected.
Here is Ranulph Fiennes talking about how this happens.

 

Soodanim

Member
Assault is always such a broad term and is usually used for the bare minimum American definition where someone just about touches someone else and everyone gets all dramatic about it.

But these people are South Africans, so I get the feeling this is more than that. They're used to a bit of violence.

It's definitely the big fella 2nd from left if they're all that scared.
 

Coconutt

Member
Seems irresponsible to make this public without first removing this violent person from the base first. Won't they be able to read this now and possibly do something drastic while he can?
 

ÆMNE22A!C

NO PAIN TRANCE CONTINUE
I've recently seen some Antarctica related stuff via a Russian who's got the passport. Bases from  many countries.
Antarctic Treaty and all. Sad to hear but people are people. Insane shit happens.
Smh. Sigh.
 

StueyDuck

Member
The majority population of SA is black. Van Tonder is the minority. You were expecting something different? Or is this you saying "those violent black Africans... Surprises no one"... Because your "well well well" doesn't read very neutral.
If you knew about the Rape culture and gender based violence that frequently occurs and is culturally accepted in SA you wouldn't be too shocked.

I can't speak for that users intent, but it's not a race issue but a cultural/Tribal issue. GBV Is a HUGE problem in SA.
 
Last edited:

Hookshot

Member
Parts of South Africa are absolutely fucked up towards women but incidents happen at other research bases. I’m sure there was a stabbing at a Russian one a few years back.
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
If you knew about the Rape culture and gender based violence that frequently occurs and is culturally accepted in SA you wouldn't be too shocked.

I can't speak for that users intent, but it's not a race issue but a cultural/Tribal issue. GBV Is a HUGE problem in SA.

Thanks. I appreciate your reply. I had no idea! Smh
 

StueyDuck

Member
Thanks. I appreciate your reply. I had no idea! Smh
Yeah, it's gotten so bad that it has actually become a political topic over the last so many Years.

I will say... it's at least being acknowledged lately by leaders and so on, so there's hope it'll improve


some of the recent numbers out of the state of the nation (technically Political but i doubt anyone here cares about SA politics, I mean not even we do in the country so I'm sure it should be fine to post. EviLore EviLore can let me know if it isn't and I'll remove it)
 
Last edited:

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Parts of South Africa are absolutely fucked up towards women but incidents happen at other research bases. I’m sure there was a stabbing at a Russian one a few years back.
Yup. Googled it. LOLLLL

 

Hookshot

Member
Top Bottom