Calls are growing on social media and within political commentary circles for Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald to be considered for the country’s highest office, following widespread praise for what analysts describe as a strong turnaround of the department under his leadership.
Supporters from across racial and political lines have taken to X and other platforms to commend Groenewald’s performance, with some arguing that his results-driven approach stands out within South Africa’s Government of National Unity. The conversation has been amplified by political analyst Prof Lesiba Teffo, who has publicly described Groenewald as the best-performing minister in the current administration.
Teffo has urged South Africans to assess leaders based on performance rather than race or political affiliation, pointing to concrete outcomes achieved within a short period. According to him, Groenewald inherited correctional service farms that had been abandoned for years and moved quickly to resuscitate them. Inmates are now producing food, including vegetables and baked goods, significantly reducing the department’s reliance on external suppliers. Teffo estimates that these initiatives have saved the state about R29 million in food costs within just 12 months.
Beyond agriculture, Groenewald has revived artisan training programmes that had largely disappeared over the past three decades. Prisoners are once again being trained in bricklaying, construction, plumbing and electrical work, skills that can be used for community development projects while inmates are incarcerated and for employment after release. Analysts note that this approach aligns with international correctional best practice, where rehabilitation and reintegration are central objectives rather than punishment alone.
Public praise has also followed Groenewald’s firm stance on discipline and corruption within correctional facilities. His decision to enforce stricter bans on cellphone use by inmates has been widely welcomed by members of the public who have long complained about prisoners coordinating criminal activity from inside jails. The minister has also launched internal measures to combat corruption among officials, amid long-standing allegations that bribery enabled escapes and criminal operations.
At the same time, Groenewald has been candid about the structural problems facing the correctional system. He has raised alarm over remand detainees who have spent more than a decade in custody without trial, as well as chronic overcrowding driven by a prison population estimated at around 26,000 inmates. The department is reportedly working on plans to address these challenges, including the deportation of foreign nationals serving sentences in South Africa.
Since taking office, Groenewald has engaged directly with correctional services staff through consultations aimed at understanding working conditions, safety concerns and operational weaknesses. While some of his reforms, particularly the cellphone ban, have triggered resistance from inmates and criticism from certain civil society groups, supporters argue that decisive leadership has been long overdue in a department plagued by inefficiency and corruption.
The growing admiration has now taken a more organised form, with the launch of a “Groenewald for President” petition aimed at gauging public sentiment on whether his performance should translate into broader political leadership. One widely shared post featured an image of Groenewald holding the South African flag, accompanied by a message from a supporter declaring that leadership competence, not race, should determine the country’s future.
Observers note that while the calls are largely symbolic at this stage, they reflect a deeper public frustration with underperformance in government and a hunger for leaders who demonstrate measurable results. Whether the momentum around Groenewald translates into formal political ambition remains unclear, but the debate has already reignited discussions about accountability, merit and leadership standards in South Africa’s post-election political landscape.
Museveni pledges industrial park during a campaign in Fort Portal City
