"Considering the challenges he is faced with, he has presented us with a responsible budget," said United Democratic Movement deputy secretary general Nqabayomzi Kwankwa.
Gordhan had the difficult task of allocating funds for a government which was "doing a lot more, but doing it less well".
With a budget deficit of 5.2%, a current account deficit of about six percent, and government debt of just over 40%, it was clear that there was very little room to manoeuvre.
To embark on fiscal consolidation, the government would have to root out corruption and wasteful spending.
However, the UDM was concerned about the negative affect of the increased fuel levy, together with the constant rise in the fuel price on the cost of living for South Africans - especially the poor, Kwankwa said.
* Visit our 2013 Budget section for full coverage of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's National Budget speech.