plagued by poor health (first fevers, later a serious disease of his leg) forced groenendaal to go on leave for several months in 1855-1856. state president boshoff took the opportunity to request the volksraad to dismiss him as treasurer general. in january 1856 groenendaal was forced to resign as government secretary. the resignation was followed by a period in which groenendaal kept away from active politics, although he did get involved in political debate through letters in the local press. in these he strongly criticised boshoff's policies with regard to land speculation. groenendaal, though not a very powerful figure, still had allies in the volksraad, which appointed him member of a commission to oversee the state budget for 1858, much to the dismay of president boshoff.