Calls for DA MP Mark Burke’s removal from finance committees amid Reserve Bank investigation

The Democratic Alliance has removed MP Mark Burke from parliament’s finance committee and the party’s finance cluster to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest while the South African Reserve Bank investigates fintech firm Kastelo Pty Ltd for suspected exchange control violations involving around R4bn.

Party aims to avoid perception of conflict of interest ‘out of an abundance of caution’ while exchange control investigation continuesThe DA has removed MP Mark Burke from parliament’s finance committee and the party’s finance cluster while a company of which he is a beneficiary is the subject of an investigation by the South African Reserve Bank.

Burke said in a statement on Tuesday that he respected the independence of the Reserve Bank and its responsibility to investigate potential contraventions of exchange control regulations.

He also sought to distance himself from Kastelo’s current operations, saying he was not the chair of Kastelo Pty Ltd and was not involved in its daily operations.

I previously served as chair of the broader Kastelo group but have since ceased serving in that position in February 2026. I resigned from Kastelo in 2024 to pursue a political career,

Burke said.

He said the high court judgment did not make a finding of wrongdoing against either Kastelo or himself and did not establish that exchange control contraventions had been proven.

The matter before the court concerned whether the Reserve Bank had grounds to issue a blocking order while its investigation continues. The court found that it did,

Burke said. Burke also said he had recused himself from matters involving the Reserve Bank since entering parliament.

No allegation of misconduct or malfeasance has been made against me personally, and I am personally not subject to any investigation by any entity or agency,

Burke said. The DA defended Burke on Tuesday, with federal council chair Ashor Sarupen saying the party would not interfere with or prejudge the Reserve Bank investigation.

There is no finding of wrongdoing against Dr Burke that would justify the DA treating him as though such a finding had already been made,

Sarupen said. He said that the DA believed in accountability, the independence of institutions and due process, and that these principles applied equally to its representatives.

The DA has now nevertheless opted to remove Burke from the finance committee and finance cluster while the Bank inquiry continues.

Burke is the DA’s federal finance chair and has served as the party’s parliamentary finance spokesperson.