South Africa’s Antarctic research programme is facing claims of alcohol abuse, sexual harassment and some critical supply obstacles at its three remote bases.
This week multiple sources voiced concern that the programme, a world-renowned source of groundbreaking scientific research, is in decline. The claims come in the wake of allegations of serious misconduct at the Sanae IV base in Antarctica, which made international news headlines.
Information received this week from well-placed sources includes:
- medical supply shortages at Sanae IV and Gough Island research base prompted unscheduled extra drop-offs, including an airdrop last month for Sanae IV;
- some scientific stakeholders are concerned research projects might be jeopardised by the woeful state of the programme;
- safety concerns have been sparked by faulty or ageing equipment, such as defective vehicles at Sanae IV, faulty generators on Marion Island and outdated communication systems at all three bases, affecting connectivity; and
- alcohol and sexual harassment are problems.
The department of forestry, fisheries & the environment (DFFE), which runs the three bases, this week acknowledged procurement challenges, which it said were due largely to unforeseen circumstances.
It really does seem laughable how disorganised it is
— Former Marion Island team member
“There are instances where supplies must be procured within short time frames due to the continuously changing nature of the adverse environment,” it said.
“Even with the most detailed planning, unexpected issues arise that must be solved in the short term yet remain within the necessary financial and procurement prescripts.”
However, several sources blamed the problems on management failures.
“It really does seem laughable how disorganised it is,” said a former Marion team member who has ruled out going back, despite the scientific value of such a trip. “As much as I would want to [go], there are too many concerns. I don’t feel like the department has our back.”
South Africa has a proud history of Antarctic and Southern Ocean research dating to the 1950s.
The icebreaker SA Agulhas II drops off scientists and technical personnel and supplies on an annual round trip from Cape Town. Sources said the ship should fully stock the bases, notably with food, medicine and fuel. Supply chain problems appeared to be linked to budgetary constraints.
“Supply is a major problem and has been for the past five years or so,” said a source familiar with the programme.
Personal safety is a recurring complaint, particularly from women.
University of Cape Town PhD candidate Mohammed Kajee, who spent three weeks at the Sanae IV base during the 2022/2023 team changeover, felt compelled to conduct a seminar on sexual harassment and gender-based violence after listening to stories from colleagues.
“I was completely shocked (and somewhat disgusted) by what I observed on both the ship and base,” Kajee said. “What should have been a dream opportunity and a trip of a lifetime was tainted by the rampant, normalised and unrelenting sexual harassment that I observed.”
Incidents included male colleagues masturbating loudly in the communal bathroom and unwanted advances, particularly by inebriated team members.
“One of the most shocking things I heard was from [identity withheld] who described the Sanae IV base as having the worst harassment they ever faced. Worse even than when they were deployed in a war zone. They described how, each day, they would ... do their work and rush back to their room and lock the door,” Kajee said.
Concerns have been raised about the DFFE’s staff-screening process and psychometric tests before Antarctic voyages.
Reports of sexual harassment at various bases in Antarctica have come under the spotlight in recent years, culminating in a hard-hitting 2022 report. Author Prof Meredith Nash from Australian National University told the Sunday Times “the endemic problem of sexual harassment in Antarctica is the most poorly kept secret”.
Harassment is associated with alcohol at the remote bases, including South Africa’s. Kajee said the amount of alcohol that the over-winter team are allowed to bring to Sanae IV is “scary”.
He said that by speaking about the problems, he was probably killing any chance of being able to return to Sanae IV. But “I think it is important that someone speaks up about this topic because things simply cannot continue as they are”.
Nash said alcohol created a permissive environment for harassment but was not necessarily the basic cause.
“Harassment is a function of gender inequality. The vast majority of national programmes are male-dominated — historically they are built on cultures of sexism and gender discrimination. Mix this with a remote/isolated work environment, and a high proportion of contractors, and you have a perfect stage for harassment,” Nash said.
The DFFE said all over-wintering team members received courses in interpersonal communications “and other factors”.
“Over-winterers generally go through a period of social adjustment within the remote and confined space, but continuous engagement is part of the department’s risk management and human capital management plans.”
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