The DA has removed Mark Burke from its finance structures, citing conflict-of-interest concerns while the South African Reserve Bank investigates Kastelo over suspected exchange-control contraventions.
Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Burke has been removed from his positions on Parliament’s finance committee and the Democratic Alliance’s finance cluster.
This follows an inquiry by the South African Reserve Bank into a company in which he holds a beneficial interest. DA Parliamentary Leader George Michalakis confirmed that the decision was made after discussions with Burke to eliminate any perception of a conflict of interest.
“After consultation with Dr Mark Burke, we have decided that out of an abundance of caution, and to avoid any perceptions of a conflict of interest, he will no longer serve on the finance committee or in the finance cluster while a company he is a beneficiary of is the subject of an inquiry by the SARB. We have now effected that change.”
The decision follows calls for Burke’s removal from finance-related parliamentary structures after the Johannesburg High Court dismissed a challenge by fintech company Kastelo over a Reserve Bank blocking order linked to suspected exchange-control contraventions involving about R4 billion.
