Section 55(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996), states that the National Assembly must provide for mechanisms (a) to ensure that all executive organs of state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it; and (b) to maintain oversight of (i) the exercise of national executive authority including the implementation of legislation; and (ii) any organ of state. The Portfolio Committee on Communications considered the Budget of the Department of Communications on 9 March 2011, 15 April 2011 and 20 and 24 May 2011. The purpose of these meetings was to outline the department's budget for the 2011/12 financial year and its strategic plan for 2011-2013.