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Trade & Industry Minister Rob Davies said the following: “From my corner we are very happy there are additional resources for the manufacturing enhancement programme that we will announce more of later. Essentially it is to encourage manufacturers to invest and raise their global competitiveness and not just adopt a wait and see attitude.”

Alan Winde Western Cape MEC for Economic Development and Tourism said: “Three things that came out for me were the improvements announced for small businesses, infrastructure and the fact that we really have to push savings. We were saved in the last economic downturn by government spending, but now we really have to push savings.

"The developments around the Special Economic Zones still have to be worked out. The legislation is still being work-shopped and the devil is in the detail. We still have to work out what kind of incentives we want to offer if we want to be globally competitive."

Lance Greyling Independent Democrats shadow public enterprises minister: "We were expecting bold spending. But I do not think that the Minister was bold enough. Despite what the Minister might say on seeing infrastructure spending taking up 7.8% of GDP I think it could easily go up to 10% if we have an equity injection. What is also a concern is that we (government) only spent 68% of our infrastructure budget last year and so the percentage of GDP could easily go even higher.

"Also think giving arms manufacture Denel R700 million was not right after they have been recapitalised three times already and so we (government) have to think of another plan.

"The Minister clearly said no to SAA (SA Airways announcement that it needed a R6 billion capital injection) however we will have to wait to see what happens in October.”

Steve Swart, African Christian Democratic Party: "The ACDP broadly supports the Budget."

Gwede Mantashe African National Congress secretary general: "I am happy with the budget because it puts in numbers and details to the State-of-the-Nation-Address. Eve the question of e-tolling signals that government does listen. On education and social services is not just spending it is an investment in future. Social spending is not falling it is just the ratio that is changing as the focus moves to increased in vestment on infrastructure and that is just natural."

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Inkatha Freedom Party leader: "Well I think the Minister's budget was predictable in a way if one looks at what the President said announcing so many huge infrastructure projects, we will wait to see where the money will come from. This budget is nothing to write home about there is nothing exciting. I must say that we must look at economic growth and what little economic growth must be stimulated by government. Even the projections he made on economic growth I cannot take them seriously."

Business Unity SA acting CEO Raymond Parson: "It is a pro-growth Budget which given the economic circumstances does the right things. We must get cooperation from everyone to make it happen. GDP growth of 2.7% is in fact Busa's forecast and we expect it to rise to 3.2% next year and today was one of the building blocks to get it there."

Democratic Alliance shadow finance minister Tim Harris: "We welcome the deficit reduction from 5.2% to 4.6% but he could have been bolder on growth and infrastructure as he has the fiscal space. It's amazing to think that last year's projections were that we would spend 8.1% of GDP on infrastructure when we only spent 7.8%, so in fact, we are slipping. Also state-owned-enterprises failed to spend 40% of the money earmarked for infrastructure. More money for infrastructure could be gained from partial privatization and listing of state-owned-enterprises.

"That there was no mention of the youth wage subsidy shows that the Minister only pays lip service to youth unemployment. There is no legislative reason why he cant implement it on April 1 as he originally planned. He doesn't have to listen to Nedlac and Cosatu is refusing to discuss it there.

"The lower rise in social spending shows that we (SA) have to claw back some of the increases looking at eradicating people from getting social grants who don’t deserve to. However, the state will always have to look after those who, for whatever reason, are unable to look after themselves."

Go to Budget 2012 Special Report