in november 1858, groenendaal was re-elected to the volksraad for the constituency of midden-rietrivier en grootrivier in sannah's poort fauresmith. this time, he found himself on the side of boshoff, and up against a majority of the volksraad, in the debate about unification of the orange free state with the south african republic. groenendaal, boshoff, and state attorney h.a.l. hamelberg were all for a federation with the cape colony instead.