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The budget decision to allocate additional funding to health was welcomed by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA on Thursday.

“We are delighted that health will receive an additional R12.3

billion over the next three years with R45 million allocated to nursing colleges,” Denosa said in a statement.

It said it was a good step in dealing with the chronic staff shortages in nursing and in ensuring that there was sufficient personnel to deliver healthcare.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's announcement that the treasury would appoint a chief procurement officer would assist the nursing industry and help in rooting out corruption.

Denosa further welcomed the R968 million that would be made available for antiretroviral treatments.

However, areas of concern were the projected budget deficit, the e-tolling system and taxation.

“We hope that government plans to reduce the deficit to 3

percent of GDP in 2014/15 will indeed materialise.”

Announcing the budget on Wednesday, Gordhan said a budget deficit of 4.6 percent of GDP was projected in 2012/13. It was planned to reduce the deficit to three percent of GDP in 2014/15, and public debt would stabilise at about 38 percent of GDP.

Denosa also lashed out at the decision to push forward with tolling of Gauteng's roads.

“We reject the e-tolling system completely as it will hit hard on the pockets of the travelling workers. Government should instead look at alternative ways of funding our roads.” - Sapa