PRETORIA, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) has formally called for the removal of Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Mark Burke from Parliament’s finance-related committees. This demand follows serious allegations from the South African Reserve Bank involving Burke’s fintech company, Kastelo, and suspected attempts to circumvent the country’s exchange-control regulations.
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus argues that Parliament cannot credibly exercise oversight over the South African Reserve Bank while a member of its finance committee faces such serious allegations of misconduct. According to the party, these allegations raise fundamental questions about the integrity of South Africa’s financial system.
ANC MP and Finance Committee member Cameron Dugmore outlined the party’s position, pointing to a court judgment delivered on the 28th of July this year. The judgment was against the company where Burke serves as chairperson, after the Reserve Bank, on suspicion of unlawful conduct, attached the company’s funds. Burke’s company challenged the attachment in court but lost the case with punitive costs.
Dugmore highlighted that up to four billion rand is reportedly involved. An affidavit from a Reserve Bank investigator, cited in the court case, alleges the deliberate construction of a scheme to breach or circumvent exchange-control regulations. Dugmore emphasized that if proven true, this constitutes a criminal offense involving the currency of the country.
In response, the ANC is in the process of writing to the Speaker of Parliament, requesting that the matter and all associated allegations be referred to the ethics committee for investigation. The ANC is seeking a formal finding that Burke should not serve on the finance or appropriations committees. Furthermore, the ANC insists that the finance committee itself must summon the Reserve Bank for an update on the investigation, as well as summon Burke’s brother, Nicholas, who serves as the CEO of the company.
The public became aware of the matter following a Monday report by Business Day deputy editor Kabelo Khumalo, raising questions about why the DA did not act sooner. Dugmore noted that the DA federal leader recently offered a rapid defense of Burke, which the ANC dismissed as inadequate.
Dugmore drew parallels between this situation and other ongoing scrutiny facing the DA, including allegations surrounding former leader Tony Leon. He cited concerns over potential state capture, subcontracting contracts from the City of Cape Town, the ShotSpotter issue, and deliberate attempts to influence government policy regarding Starlink to benefit a former client, Resolve. Dugmore also pointed to emerging allegations of land corruption in Stellenbosch, noting that DA spokesperson Jan de Villiers was a councilor during a period when the mayor allegedly allocated long leases to influential individuals without the council’s consent.
Addressing the broader implications for the Government of National Unity (GNU), Dugmore stressed that coalition governance does not exempt any politician from accountability. He reaffirmed the ANC’s internal standard, noting that the party requires its own members to step down if charged with a serious offense.
“The message must be that whether you are in a government of unity, whether you are in opposition, whether you’re a mayor, whether you’re a deputy mayor, if you conduct yourself in a way that goes against the laws of this country, that steals the taxpayers’ money, that abuses exchange control regulations, there have got to be consequences,” Dugmore stated.
The ANC is currently evaluating the possibility of laying criminal charges to ensure the matter is treated with the necessary severity. Dugmore concluded by emphasizing that while individuals have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, basic ethics and accountability must prevail without fear or favor, inside or outside the GNU, reinforcing the principle that no one is above the law.