I am freckled, please send money

THE National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) gave Petroline SA a licence on March 29, to build a petroleum pipeline from Matola Harbour in Mozambique to Gauteng - despite the Department of Minerals and Energy arguing against it (for appearances' sake?). Who is Petroline? Well it is owned by the Woesa Consortium( Women in Oil and Energy South Africa) , Gigajoule International, Petroleos De Mozambique and Companhia De Desenvol-vimento De Petroleo Mozambique Sarl. Ja, well. The Mozambique end of this looks reasonably Kosher but Woesa is a different thing altogether. Woesa, it turns out, is a group of women who think they have a divine right, thanks to their gender, to play a major role in the South African oil industry. On this basis they have been diligently begging money from Eskom, the DME, and the South African Petroleum Industry. Not a little money either. They have managed to get donations eof R672,000 between 2004 and 2005. Who were the willing donors? Why, the DME, R150 000, the Development Bank of South Africa R150 000, the South African Petroleum Industry Association R150 000, ABSA bank R20 000, the Central Energy Fund R20 000, Eskom R25 000 and Engen R30 000 -- among others. Note this: R320 000 from State organisations. This is public money that has been dished out to people who have simply declared that they are owed a slice of the oil industry. It clearly is a wonderful idea so Spigot is now forming his own organisation. It is restricted to all those who are freckled and redheaded. For too long we have been discriminated against. DME, CEF, SAPIA, ESKOM, ABSA, please send money -- postal orders, cheques, cash accepted without question. Receipts on request only.