The former MEC for Safety, Security and Liaison and a former mayor of Vhembe, Florence Radzilani, was appointed as the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, following a reshuffling of the provincial cabinet by Premier Stan Mathabatha.

The controversial Radzilani was implicated in advocate Terry Motau's forensic report on the VBS shenanigans for allegedly demanding a R300 000 “Christmas present” after her municipality deposited R300 million into the bank. She was also removed as mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality after the VBS scandal.

Radzilani said she was ready for the task ahead of intensifying the fight against crime. “This will be better achieved when government involves communities in understanding what it means to be law-abiding citizens,” she said. “Let us work together to build a department that the province can be proud of. Let us work together to diligently provide services that our people need and deserve in combating crime,” said Radzilani.

Radzilani said that she had joined the department during October, which is also Transport Month. “The period presents an opportunity for us to nurture partnerships with our communities and businesses alike in providing a safer, more affordable, accessible, and reliable transport system. This is also an opportunity to remind all our people of the importance of road safety. Let us all obey the rules of the road, to always arrive alive,” she said.

In a statement by the Democratic Alliance, Radzilani’s appointment is criticised.  “[Premier] Mathabatha lost a real opportunity to make more extensive changes to provide credible leaders for a government of an ailing province. Instead, Mathabatha opted for stomach politics, which casts doubt over his frequent and well-rehearsed commitments to fight corruption,” the DA said, promising to monitor the performance of Mathabatha’s newly appointed MECs closely.