An old video shows the inside of the isolated Antarctic Sanae IV base where South African researchers pleaded for help over an allegedly violent colleague.

In 2020, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) posted a clip about “how SANSA Antarctic engineers live and work at the South African Antarctic Research Base SANAE IV.”

Why It Matters

This is the base that captured the attention of the world this month after an overwintering team member emailed the South African government accusing one of their colleagues of physical assault, sexual harassment and making death threats.

The team of nine at the center of the scandal described it as a “horror movie…playing out,” according to South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, which broke the story.

South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has been investigating since last month, but on Tuesday, Environment Minister Dion George said there were no plans to rescue the researchers at the base.

What To Know

“His behavior has become increasingly egregious, and I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence,” the email said, according to the Sunday Times. “It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.

“I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.”

George confirmed that an assault had taken place, after a verbal altercation, but told The New York Times that the accused had “written a formal apology,” “shown remorse” and had cooperated with a psychological evaluation.

In the 2020 video, an engineer gives a tour of the base and introduces viewers to his colleagues. The staff described the base divided into three blocks—A, B and C. The tour starts in the gym, in Block C, which has a climbing wall, a boxing bag, an exercise bike, a rowing machine, a treadmill and weights.

Outside the gym, on the other side of a garage-looking door, is a “braai,” which is similar to an American barbecue grill, and very important to South African culture with its public holiday Heritage Day often called Braai Day instead.

There is a fully stocked storeroom, a sauna, multiple snowmobiles in the Hangar and a generator room, before viewers are taken through what the team calls a “link” into Block B, which starts with a game room featuring a pool/table tennis table.

There is also a bar, a dry room filled with supplies, a cold store and kitchen and a dining room.

Clock A has offices, the main entrance and exit to the base and sleeping rooms, which are also in Block B.

The bedrooms in Block B contain two bunk beds, so they host four people. The bathrooms are also communal with toilet stalls in a row next to each other and showers on the other side.

There is also a cinema with multiple sofas, where the team can watch films and TV shows. There is a fully equipped hospital and a physics lab.

The video also shows several of the routines and procedures that the team goes through, including melting and testing snow for water and operations in a radar hut outside the base, supplied for people to be able to survive there for a few days in the event of a storm.

It comes as the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is looking to fill two roles at its Sanae IV Antarctic base.

According to a job listing for two electronics engineer posts, shared on the SANSA website on March 17, candidates “must be able to work independently with minimal support under extreme pressure and without supervision.”

What People Are Saying

The team member who sent the allegations to the South African government said in the email that the man’s behavior was “deeply disturbing” and said he had created an “environment of fear and intimidation.”

South African Environment Minister Dion George told the New York Times: “There was a verbal altercation between the team leader and this person. Then it escalated and then that person did physically assault the leader. You can imagine what it’s like, it is close quarters and people do get cabin fever. It can be very disorientating.”

What Happens Next

The South African scientists will remain at Sanae IV until the end of their mission—unless anything changes in relation to the government’s investigation.