Pieter Groenewald, the Minister of Correctional Services and former leader of the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), has stepped down from all leadership roles within the party citing the demanding nature of his ministerial duties and the upcoming 2026 local elections.

In an interview with eNCA, Groenewald explained that there were two key reasons behind his decision.

“The first reason is that if I look at the minister and what I have to do, and as leader of the Freedom Front Plus, the work is just too much,” he said.

He further noted the additional challenges posed by the upcoming local government elections in 2026, emphasising the greater time commitment these elections require compared to national or provincial elections.

“We must remember that in 2026 we are having a local government election, and I know from previous experiences that the election at local government level takes much more time than on a national or provincial level,” he said.

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The second reason for his decision was his belief in the importance of creating space for a new generation of leaders within the party.

“We must make space for the young, upcoming new generation of leaders in the Freedom Front Plus. And that materialised,” Groenewald stressed.

He highlighted the recent leadership changes, noting that Wouter Wessel, at 39, was the new chairperson, and 41-year-old Michael Groenewald was the vice-chairperson.

“So it is the new young generation that is coming to the fore,” he said.

He also referenced statistics from the Electoral Commission, pointing out that 42% of the registered voters were between the ages of 18 and 39.

Despite stepping down as party leader, Groenewald confirmed that the FF Plus fully supported his decision to focus on his role as minister of correctional services.

“Yes, they totally accepted that, and in fact, they actually said that I must continue so I can give my full attention now in terms of Correctional Services,” he said.

Groenewald also confirmed that he would remain in his ministerial position, explaining that he had informed President Cyril Ramaphosa beforehand, and the president had expressed his desire for him to continue in the role.

“I also informed President Cyril Ramaphosa beforehand, and he said he wants me to continue as minister because it’s his prerogative,” Groenewald said.

Groenewald’s departure from his leadership role in the FF Plus came as Member of Parliament Dr Corné Mulder took over as party leader last week.

Groenewald also addressed the ongoing challenges in South Africa's prison system, including food shortages, overcrowding, and the financial burden of housing foreign nationals.

He confirmed recent shortages and quality concerns, revealing that after receiving complaints, he “immediately followed it up,” ensuring new supplies were delivered the next morning.

He attributed some shortages to procurement failures, stating, “I’m not happy about that,” and called for “consequence management” against negligent officials.

With South African prisons housing about 108,000 beds for 103,000 sentenced prisoners, Groenewald noted that the real issue lies with 60,000 remand detainees awaiting trial.

He also highlighted the financial strain of housing 25,000 foreign nationals, saying, “Why must the taxpayers in South Africa pay for foreign nationals with criminal activity in South Africa?”

He called for their deportation but acknowledged that international negotiations are slow. “I wish I could pick up a phone and say, ‘We’re sending your nationals back to you,’ but it’s not as simple as that,” he explained.

In response to high-profile escapes, such as Thabo Bester’s from a private prison, Groenewald reassured the public, stating, “Since I became the minister, we have had two escapes, and those escapees were back behind bars within two days.”

While he admitted to systemic issues, he maintained that escape rates in South Africa remain low by international standards.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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Pieter Groenewald steps down as FF Plus leader to focus on ministerial duties