Eastern Cape Finance MEC expected to table a R60b provincial budget

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 Eastern Cape Finance MEC, Pumulo Masualle, is expected to table a provincial budget in the region of R60b.

And, opposition parties say the bulk of it will go to the Departments of Education and Health.

Congress of the People's Sam Kwelita, says he hopes Masualle will ensure that the two departments do not overspend their budgets, which limits their ability to carry out their functions.

Kwelita says the other challenge facing the province is spending the infrastructure budget.

"We are seeing that in spite of the infrastructure challenges we have in the province we have been unable to spend the infrastructure budget. We hope that the MEC will set in place plans to deal with this area. The second thing are officials doing business with government and we believe that this must be stopped

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance says Masualle must set the right environment that is conducive to creating jobs, reducing poverty and improving service delivery.

DA leader in the Bhisho legislature, Bobby Stevenson, says until the province deals with the bloated an inefficient civil service, it will never have the resources to meet the challenges facing the province.

He says Masualle promised to address this last year but nothing has happened.

"I am also expecting the MEC to spell out how we can create a better climate for economic growth and what the consequences will be for poor financial management. We are now operating in an extremely tight fiscal space and we need to ensure that we utilise all our resources to their maximum potential" Stevenson said.