PRETORIA, Gauteng — ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli has officially laid a criminal case against Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Mark Burke and Kastelo, the fintech company he founded. The legal action stems from alleged exchange-control contraventions and related financial misconduct amounting to R4-billion, which is currently under active investigation by the South African Reserve Bank.
The criminal complaint marks a significant escalation in parliamentary accountability. Following mounting pressure from the ANC and the broader public, Burke has already recused himself from parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance and the Standing Committee on Appropriations. However, Ntuli emphasized that this recusal is merely an initial step.
“It is not enough until the investigation is properly conducted and completed, and we uncover the real truth behind what has happened,” Ntuli stated. He reiterated the ANC’s formal request to the Speaker of Parliament that Burke must also be referred to the ethics committee of parliament to face decisive consequences for his conduct.
Addressing the complex dynamics of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Ntuli dismissed the notion that the coalition should shield its partners from legal scrutiny. He stressed that participating in the GNU does not grant immunity from the law or the Constitution of the Republic. Accountability, he noted, applies collectively and individually to all members of the national assembly, with no exceptions for governing partners.
Ntuli suggested that this high-profile case shatters the “optical illusion” that the DA has historically been insulated from the same public criticism it frequently directs at the ANC. He pointed to a track record of reported mishaps involving DA-led institutions in the Western Cape province and the City of Cape Town metro. While past issues were often handled through institutional reporting, Ntuli argued that the sheer scale of the alleged R4-billion defrauding of the democratic state necessitated direct, elevated action by the ANC caucus.
When confronted with criticism that the ANC might be “milking” the Burke case to distract from its own internal challenges and calls for party renewal, Ntuli firmly rejected the premise. He drew a sharp distinction between the inevitable, genuine mistakes made during the ANC’s long journey of national transformation and what he described as a “conscious decision” by a private company, aided by political links, to defraud the state.
“This is not a mistake,” Ntuli asserted. “It is a conscious decision taken to ensure that a particular objective is achieved, which is completely at variance with what our constitutional dispensation requires.”
Beyond the criminal allegations, Ntuli also addressed mounting speculation regarding the ANC’s delayed announcement of outright mayoral candidates ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Critics have suggested the delay signals internal infighting and decision-making paralysis.
Ntuli categorically denied any internal conflict, explaining that the party is undertaking a new, highly detailed interview process for candidates across nearly 50 municipalities. While this comprehensive approach has impacted timelines, he insisted it reflects a rigorous commitment to proper vetting rather than organizational dysfunction.
He concluded by reaffirming the ANC’s foundational political tradition: the party and its policy agenda must always take precedence over individual personalities. Ntuli emphasized that the organization is deliberately avoiding a “US-style” political model, ensuring that the campaign’s central message remains focused on the African National Congress as an institution, rather than elevating individual candidates above the party’s collective mandate.