DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis attacks Minister Pieter Groenewald, which then turns into a full-blown brawl

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis attacked Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald over the number of untraceable parolees. It quickly turned into a brawl.

On 28 May 2026, AmaBhungane reported that the Department of Correctional Services can’t account for 27,797 high-risk parolees who have absconded.

Hill-Lewis jumped on this report, taking aim at Groenewald. “Nearly 28,000 parolees are untraceable. Gone. Missing,” he said.

“Many of these are violent criminals, now walking free, putting the public at risk. Pieter Groenewald must not hide behind excuses.”

“He must act today to find these parolees, bring them back before the law, and hold every official accountable who allowed them to disappear.”

The DA backed Hill-Lewis, saying it will not accept a system where criminals roam free, and communities are left to pay the price.

“A DA-led government will implement electronic monitoring, proper supervision, and real accountability,” it said.

Groenewald responded, explaining that the number of untraceable parolees in South Africa goes back to 1991.

“I am in the process of issuing electronic bracelets for parolees. There is progress. I had a parole summit last September to discuss revisions to the parole system,” he said.

He added that his department is busy with legislative amendments to improve the system. “Don’t practice cheap politics,” he told Hill-Lewis.

The DA leader continued his attack, saying that a summit means little. “28,000 parolees, many of them convicted of violent offences, are missing on your watch,” he said.

“You want the victims of murderers and rapists who reoffend because you’ve done nothing to find these criminals for two years, to be grateful that you held a talk-shop?”

The DA said it had called on Parliament to summon Groenewald to explain this shocking failure and outline a plan to get these absconders back into custody.

FF Plus leader Corné Mulder stepped in, saying that Hill-Lewis’ behaviour resembles that of the previous DA leader, John Steenhuisen.

“First, John Steenhuisen attacked the previous Freedom Front Plus leader, Dr Pieter Mulder, blaming him for Foot and Mouth disease,” Mulder said.

“Now, Geordin Hill-Lewis blames the previous Freedom Front Plus leader, Dr Pieter Groenewald, for parolees who have absconded since 1991.”

“Know your DA. The ANC must be very proud.”