Pieter Groenewald | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Groenewald in 2018 | |
| Minister of Correctional Services | |
| Assumed office 3 July 2024[1] | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Lindiwe Ntshalintshali |
| Preceded by | Ronald Lamola asMinister of Justice and Correctional Services |
| Leader of the Freedom Front Plus | |
| In office 12 November 2016 – 22 February 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Pieter Mulder |
| Succeeded by | Corné Mulder |
| Member of theNational Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 2001 | |
| In office 1994–1999 | |
| Member of theHouse of Assembly of South Africa forStilfontein | |
| In office 1989–1994 | |
| Federal Chairperson of theFreedom Front Plus | |
| In office 11 August 2011 – 12 November 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Abrie Oosthuizen[2] |
| Succeeded by | Anton Alberts |
| Provincial Leader of theFreedom Front Plus in theNorth West | |
| In office March 1994 – March 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Michal Groenewald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1955-08-27)27 August 1955 (age 69) South Africa |
| Political party | Freedom Front Plus |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative Party (old) |
| Spouse | Hedwig Groenewald |
| Children | Michal Groenewald |
| Education | Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education |
Petrus Johannes "Pieter" Groenewald (born 27 August 1955) is a South African politician who is currently serving asMinister of Correctional Services since July 2024.[1] He served as the Leader of theFreedom Front Plus from November 2016 until February 2025. He started his political career by being elected Mayor ofStilfontein in 1988. He relinquished the position in 1989 due to his election to theHouse of Assembly. Groenewald co-founded the Freedom Front in 1994, and served as a Member of theNational Assembly until his election to theNorth West Provincial Legislature in 1999. He returned to the National Assembly in 2001.[3][4]
Groenewald's son,Michal, also serves as public representative for the party.[5]
Pieter Groenewald was born inSouth Africa. He achieved a B.luris degree from thePotchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. Other degrees that Groenewald has obtained include a Postgraduate Diploma in Communications, a master's degree in Management and Development, and a Doctorate in Politics.[6]
Groenewald was elected Mayor ofStilfontein in 1988. At theSouth African general election of 1989, he was elected to theHouse of Assembly of South Africa for the Stilfontein constituency.[7]
In March 1994, Groenewald co-founded the Freedom Front, a minority rights and pro-Afrikaner nationalism political party. He was elected to the newly-establishedNational Assembly in April of the same year. He served as a Member of Parliament until he was elected to theNorth West Provincial Legislature in 1999. He served as a North West MPL from 1999 until he returned to the National Assembly in 2001.[7]
Groenewald has held various leadership positions in theFreedom Front Plus, such as Parliamentary Leader and Federal Chairperson from 11 August 2011 until 12 November 2016. He was also the Provincial Leader of the party in the North West from March 1994 to March 2017.[7]
On 12 November 2016, Groenewald was elected Leader of the Freedom Front Plus, succeedingPieter Mulder, who retired from the position. AdvocateAnton Alberts succeeded Groenewald as Federal Chairperson.[8]
Groenewald led the Freedom Front Plus to achieve its best election result in the2019 general election. The party increased its vote share to 2.38% of the national vote, earning it ten seats in theNational Assembly, its highest representation in the National Assembly since its founding in 1994. Additionally, the party won representation in eight of the nineprovincial legislatures and largely improved its showing in the provinces ofGauteng and theNorth West.[9][10][11]
Following the2024 general election, Groenewald was appointed as Minister of Correctional Services by presidentCyril Ramaphosa with effect 3 July 2024.[12][1] Groenewald was then succeeded byCorné Mulder as parliamentary leader of the party in July 2024 before being succeeded by him as party leader in February 2025.[13][14] However, Groenewald remained in his ministerial position.[15]