Minister of Correctional Services – DR PIETER GROENEWALD, MP
Pieter Groenewald was born on 27 August 1955 in Fochville. He matriculated from Gymnasium High School in Potchefstroom. He obtained a B.Iuris (law) Degree from the Potchefstroom University (Northwest University) and worked at Krygkor.
He later completed a postgraduate diploma in communication studies and his master’s degree in public management and development. He also holds a doctorate in political studies from the Northwest University.
Prior to being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1989, he served as the Mayor of Stilfontein. In 1994 he was re-elected to Parliament where he served as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence in the National Assembly from 1994 to 1999. In 1999 he was elected as a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature where he served until 2001 when he returned to Parliament.
He served on the first ministerial interim National Defence Force Service Commission until 2012. He was a founding member of the Freedom Front. He previously served as the Federal Chairperson of the party. In 2016 he was elected as the National Leader and re-elected in 2021. In 2024 he was re-elected to the National Assembly and was appointed as the Minister of Correctional Services.
He is married and lives in Stilfontein, North West. His hobbies include karate, photography and
gardening. He was the first person in South Africa to ride five horses simultaneously, known as
Roman Riding.