Fikile Mbalula made the headlines in January 2014 after he lambasted the national team following their exit from the 2014 AFCON Championship.
The Minister of Sport said at that time: "What I saw there was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers, who don't have any respect for this country and don't have any respect for anybody,".
It now appears that the Minister's faith in the national team has been restored after he took to Twitter to display his happiness with the team's progress under Shakes Mashaba.
Here is a selection of Mbalula's tweets:
No bunch of losers tonight we are building ,the will be no instant gratification we are not unguided missiles.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) September 10, 2014
Just finished speaking to the team, thx Cpt ,tnx SA for believing in the boys , well done shakes and the team.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) September 10, 2014
Last week win and today's draw against Nigeria is definitely a good start you deserve a bells big up!! Bafana bafana .
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) September 10, 2014
Thank you Cape Town ,South Africa for believing in our boys.Good Nite courage. Discipline ,audacity… http://t.co/eQ3gU6Eydk
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) September 10, 2014