The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has raised serious concerns regarding allegations of illicit financial flows involving the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Federal Finance Chairperson and Member of Parliament, Mark Burke.

This comes after reports surfaced that Burke’s company, Kastelo, is currently under South African Reserve Bank scrutiny over questionable transactions totaling approximately R4 billion.

According to a media statement released by the ATM, the Reserve Bank has identified reasonable grounds to suspect exchange-control contraventions.

The central bank’s investigation focuses on the potential misuse of third-party allowances to move these massive funds offshore unlawfully.

The ATM has firmly stated that this issue cannot be dismissed as an ordinary commercial dispute.

The political party highlights that such massive capital flight directly undermines South Africa’s financial integrity, especially at a time when the nation continues to battle severe economic pressures, poverty, and high unemployment rates.

Furthermore, the ATM emphasized that Mark Burke cannot be viewed as a distant figure in this unfolding matter.

Given his prominent position as a DA Member of Parliament, the party’s Federal Finance Chairperson, and the founder of Kastelo—alongside reports that he has donated over R400,000 to the DA—the ATM argues that his links to the under-investigation company raise critical questions regarding political influence, financial oversight, and public accountability.

“We therefore reject attempts to downplay this as a technical dispute. Illicit financial flows rob South Africa of money needed for jobs, investment and development, while ordinary citizens are expected to carry the burden of a struggling economy.This matter also exposes the growing hypocrisy of the Democratic Alliance.

“For years, the DA has positioned itself as the moral authority on corruption and clean governance. It has demanded resignations, suspensions and investigations whenever allegations have involved members of the ANC or other political parties. The DA has repeatedly argued that political leaders must take responsibility even before criminal proceedings have reached their conclusion.

Yet when serious allegations touch one of its own senior leaders, the DA suddenly discovers patience, restraint and the importance of due process,” said ATM’s National Spokesperson Zama.Ntshona .

Ntshona said the DA has spent years telling South Africans that it represents an alternative to the ANC. Increasingly, however, it appears to be learning from the ANC’s worst political habits: protecting insiders, closing ranks around politically useful individuals and applying accountability selectively. South Africa does not need a blue version of the ANC.

“It is therefore our responsibility to call on the South African Reserve Bank, the Financial Intelligence Centre, law-enforcement agencies and all other relevant authorities to ensure that this matter is investigated fully and without fear, favour or political interference. Parliament must also consider whether any potential conflict exists where persons linked to companies under investigation participate in parliamentary structures responsible for oversight of the financial sector.

“Where wrongdoing is established, those responsible must face the full consequences of the law. ATM will continue to fight against illicit financial flows and the extraction of South Africa’s wealth. Our financial system cannot become a playground for politically connected individuals while ordinary South Africans are expected to carry the burden of economic decline,” said Ntshona.

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