Departmental response to Sunday Times article related to Antarctica

17 March 2025

Due to the extreme nature of the environment in Antarctica, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), follows a very detailed and thorough process in the recruitment of individuals who are prepared to live in such confined and testing living conditions. During the recruitment process, technical skills, psychological aspects, medical history and interpersonal relationship history of all candidates are assessed.

The DFFE requires that each individual being considered for an interview is subjected to an independent, confidential and professional psychometric analysis to ensure they are able to cope with the isolation, and can work and live with others in the confined space of the bases. Only candidates who do not have any negative outcomes from all the background evaluations will be considered for appointment. The appointed overwintering team members are afforded the opportunity to undergo team building and training together in order to build relationships prior to the departure of the SA Agulhas II, which is the main mode of transport to the scientific bases.

Even though all of the assessments and evaluations show no areas of concern, 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.

The department confirms that there were no incidents that required any of the nine overwintering team members to be brought back to Cape Town. If such incidents occurred, the management team of the department would have replaced such an overwintering team member with immediate effect, as the DFFE's position on the matter is clear: zero tolerance for any misconduct that would affect the working and relationship conditions at the SANAE IV. At the time the vessel departed for Antarctica on 1 February 2025, all was in order.

The alleged assault between two members of the overwintering team was reported on 27 February 2025. The department immediately activated the response plan to engage the individuals involved through trained professionals in order to mediate and restore relationships at the base. This process has been ongoing on an almost daily basis in order to ensure that those on the base know that the department is supportive and willing to do whatever is needed to restore the interpersonal relationships, but also firm in dealing with issues of discipline. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, together with the Director-General of the department, Ms Nomfundo Tshabalala, have personally taken charge of the management processes. This is particularly important given the fact that a majority of usual operations at all other scientific bases in Antarctica have stopped due to the onset of winter and unpredictable weather conditions.

The alleged perpetrator has willingly participated in further psychological evaluation, has shown remorse and is willingly cooperative to follow any interventions that are recommended. He has written a formal apology to the victim and is willing to verbally apologise to all members at the base. The Department has also implemented a longer term sustained intervention process through trained professional counselling services in order to restore the relationships and build a healthy working environment.

The DFFE have also, in parallel, activated a Labour Relations process to deal with the matter as it relates to the alleged physical assault. An alleged sexual harassment is also being investigated. Reports of sexual assault are not correct.

Dr George will be engaging the team to reassure them of his support and commitment to their wellbeing. He emphasises that careful management is required to give comfort to those at the base, and also to their families. The willingness of the team to engage in Wellness Programme interventions, as well as the professional and independent counselling will assist in crafting a solution. The ultimate goal would be that all at the SANAE IV are safe and healthy, working together as a team to advance the very important work they are performing in Antarctica.

The DFFE has a long and proud history of managing the logistics and scientific support for South Africa's National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). South Africa is also the only African country to have a presence in the Antarctic, a continent with some of the most extreme weather conditions on the planet, with a scientific base (SANAE IV) that houses a number of overwintering staff for a period of approximately 13 months. The Programme commenced in the 1960s and therefore, has collected valuable scientific data for over 50 years. As a country, we also have bases on the remote islands of Marion and Gough, located within close proximity to the Southern Ocean that surrounds the Antarctic with the purpose of improving our scientific understanding of climate change and climate variability.

For media enquiries please contact:

Thobile Zulu-Molobi  
Mobile:+27 82 513 7154 
E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za

Peter Mbelengwa: 
Mobile:+27 82 611 8197 
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za