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Gauteng finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe
"The budget was disappointing because one cannot see how it would effectively meet the need to create jobs for the many unemployed," DA MPL Mike Moriarty said in a statement.
"The MEC did not say anything meaningful on housing and community safety, apart from addressing school safety. Nor was there anything about fighting corruption and the wastage of public money."
Moriarty said Nkomfe's budget, presented in the provincial legislature, showed the MEC had his hands full trying to stabilise the health department.
Nkomfe gave R1.1 billion over the next three years to the department, to supplement funding for the "non-negotiable items" that health institutions needed.
An extra R430 million was allocated for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for improving primary health care.
A total of R10.2 billion would be spent in the next three years to extend antiretroviral treatment through local clinics.
The education department received R27 billion for its various programmes.
"A number of the MEC's pronouncements in respect of the 2013/14 budget are also not supported by the facts," Moriarty said.
The Congress of the People commended Nkomfe for spending more on education and health. However, Cope questioned whether spending R27 billion on education would have the desired outcome.
"Our Grade 12 scholars of 2012 cannot find work, and they were not equipped to start their own small businesses," Cope MPL Hermene Koorts said.
She said the government had to improve contract management and management of its projects.
"Allocation of monies alone will not secure a positive outcome," she said.
