For the 2009/10 financial year onward, the Portfolio Committee focused exclusively on its oversight functions of two Departments, that of the Department of Water Affairs and the Department of Environmental Affairs. The methodology utilised by the Portfolio Committee in the course of their work for this period was determined by its mandate and functions; parliamentary programme; legislation (new, amended or initiated by the Committee), as well as undertaking oversight over Executive action by scrutinising and critically engaging policies, programmes, legislation which are compiled by respective Departments to implement work to ensure service delivery to the citizens of South Africa.