Budget a pleasant surprise: ACDP

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget presented on Wednesday was a pleasant surprise, African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart said.

"All in all [it was] a very positive budget in difficult circumstances," he said after the Budget was delivered in Parliament.

Swart said he was pleasantly surprised given the global economic crisis and prospect of reduced economic growth in South Africa.

He was particularly pleased that the Budget focused on the productive side of the economy, namely infrastructure development, instead of on the consumer economy.

If the money allocated on infrastructure was well spent it would stimulate the economy and create jobs, he said.

A downside was the increase in the fuel levy by 20 cents a litre of petrol and diesel from April 4, as this would be inflationary, he said.