Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's 2009/10 Budget tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday has been broadly welcomed by political parties.

"We commend Trevor Manuel's brave decision to stick to his considered and responsible fiscal policy approach in this global economic environment," Democratic Alliance spokesman Kobus Marais said.

"We can only hope that the incoming administration have heeded his warning not to deviate from his current prudent course."

Marais said it was disappointing that there was not more focus on performance, delivery and accountability for the large sums of money that had been allocated.

The country was in the midst of a crisis of mismanagement and under-performance in countless local governments, in public institutions such as the Land Bank, and across much of the education system.

"While Manuel lambasted many individuals and departments for poor performance, there was very little in the way of specific measures to confront this," Marais said.

Narend Singh of the Inkatha Freedom Party welcomed the move to a 3.8 percent budget deficit, saying it was necessary in the current economic climate.

However, the IFP would have liked greater stimulus to prevent job losses through retrenchments and downsizing.

"We do welcome the increased allocation for spending on social development and infrastructure related programmes.

"This is a step in the right direction, but the question is whether the poor receive maximum benefit out of these additional allocations.

"To this end, the suggestion to introduce a comprehensive expenditure review must become a reality," Singh said.

He also lamented the sharp increase in the fuel levies, which would add to inflationary pressure.

African Christian Democratic Party spokesman Steve Swart supported what he called a "stimulatory budget in tough economic conditions".

"We are somewhat surprised at the size of the budget deficit. However, it amounts to a counter-cyclical fiscal stimulus to the economy.

"We doubt whether such a large budget deficit is sustainable in the long run."

The ACDP also supported increased state spending in funding infrastructure programmes, the extended public works program, and social welfare.

A disappointment was the fact that Manuel did not announce a reduction in company tax rates to stimulate economic growth and job creation.

This had been used as an economic stimulus in other countries, Swart said.

The SA Communist Party also welcomed the major thrust of the Budget.

"It is a Budget that has had to be developed in the midst of the most serious economic crisis of the global capitalist system since the early 1930s."

The government was responding to the challenge of the crisis ... by consolidating public sector spending, by expanding public sector employment and public works programmes, and by seeking to drive a much greater strategic co-ordination of development finance institutions.

"We particularly appreciate the emphasis placed on rural development and agrarian transformation, and the focus on using land productively," the SACP said.