The closures affected the 15 voter registration stations located on farms that have historically been used by the Electoral Commission (IEC) during elections and registration weekends.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, Free State provincial IEC electoral manager Itumeleng Liba said the commission was working on alternative arrangements to ensure affected residents were still able to register ahead of the local government elections scheduled for November.
“The contracts were sent to the farmers more than a month ago,” said Liba.
Biosecurity concerns prompt closures
According to Liba, concerns around biosecurity emerged as preparations for the voter registration weekend progressed.
Some farmers requested that additional biosecurity measures be implemented before allowing members of the public onto their properties, while others expressed concern about the risk of introducing or spreading FMD through increased vehicle and human movement.
“Some farmers even suggested that they would only allow registration activities if they received vaccines for their animals,” he said.
To minimise inconvenience, the IEC erected temporary tents near the entrances of some affected farms to inform residents of the situation and advise them on alternative registration options.
The closures come as livestock producers across the country continue to contend with movement controls and stringent biosecurity measures aimed at containing the spread of FMD.
The disruption of voter registration activities demonstrates how animal disease outbreaks can have wider social and economic consequences for rural communities, extending beyond farm gates and into public services and civic activities.
The incident is one of the clearest examples yet of how the ongoing FMD outbreak is influencing everyday life in rural South Africa.
Further opportunities to register
Despite these challenges, officials emphasised that affected residents would not lose their opportunity to register.
Liba said the IEC remained committed to ensuring all eligible voters could register before the local government elections.
Another voter registration weekend will be announced ahead of the elections on 4 November, giving citizens an opportunity to register, update their details or verify their registration status.
Eligible voters can also register online or update their information through the IEC’s voter registration portal.
