	As a member of the Volksraad Groenendaal and his fellow member J.M. Orpen, an Irishman, were the dominant forces behind the drafting of a constitution. After the formation of the Orange Free State Groenendaal was appointed its first State Secretary, a title soon changed to Government Secretary. He was also appointed the state's Treasurer General. In April 1854 he briefly acted as State President for J.P. Hoffman.