Eastern Cape Finance MEC Oscar Mabuyane has tabled an R82 billion budget for the province for the 2019/20 financial year.
Mabuyane tabled his maiden budget speech in the Bisho Legislature on Tuesday morning.
It reflects a 2.7 % increase compared to the previous financial year.
The Education Department will receive the highest budget allocation of more than R36.3 billion followed by the Department of Health which will be receiving more than R25 billion.
Mabuyane said more than R1.7 billion will be invested in the placement of graduates in internships, doctor community services and youth empowerment programmes.
Democratic Alliance MPL, Bobby Stevenson weighed in on Mabuyane's maiden budget speech.
He says it contained no bold pronouncements to indicate a shift away from consumption expenditure towards investment expenditure in infrastructure and economic growth.
Stevenson said the provincial wage bill continues to rise and now consumes 65.9 percent of the total budget.
