Sanae IV is South Africa’s Antarctic research station on the Vesleskarvet nunatak in Queen Maud Land, approximately 4,000 kilometers from mainland South Africa. Established in 1997, it replaced earlier stations and is designed to withstand extreme conditions, including temperatures below -20°C and winds up to 135 mph. Operated by the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), the base supports scientific research in fields like meteorology, biology, and geophysics. It typically houses a small overwintering team of 9-10 members for 13-month missions, with resupply occurring annually via the SA Agulhas II ship.
On February 1st, the nine-member Team #64 arrived at the base. On February 27th, only twenty-six days later, the team reported that a crew member had assaulted another person, made death threats, and was engaged in sexual harassment.
The South African Sunday Times reported that it was a violent sexual assault. However, the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment [DFFE] says there was an assault, but it was not of a sexual nature. However, the DFFE says they are investigating a separate allegation of sexual harassment.
The South African Ministry of the Environment says the perpetrator of the assault has expressed “remorse,” and there are no plans to extract anyone from the base. Their mission ends in December.
