2.1 Overview of Programmes Since its inception as Budget Vote (Vote 6) in April 2011, the Department has been implementing its mandate through four interlinked, interrelated and mutually reinforcing programmes. The Presidential Hotline was transferred to the Department from the Presidency with effect from 1 October 2011; in line with overall mandate of a government-wide performance monitoring and evaluation. The functions of the programmes of the Department are as follows: