Inside the R4bn money trail rocking the DA and Mark Burke

South Africa is grappling with allegations that a fintech company, Kastelo, linked to Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Mark Burke, moved billions of rands offshore. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is investigating Kastelo under suspicion of breaching exchange-control laws. The company is alleged to have transferred R4 billion outside the country, utilizing South Africans' foreign-exchange allowances without their knowledge.

The DA initially backed Burke but later removed him from finance-related committees while the investigation is ongoing. Kastelo challenged the Reserve Bank's decision to block its funds, but the court upheld the blocking order. According to the Reserve Bank's court papers, Kastelo had 891 clients, granting the company access to R891 million in Single Discretionary Allowance (SDA) and R8.9 billion in Foreign Investment Allowance (FIA) allowances annually.

The bank claims Kastelo used these allowances to acquire foreign currency and transfer funds offshore, circumventing Exchange Control Regulations. Some clients were incentivized with bonuses for using their SDA and FIA. Kastelo maintains its business model is lawful, stating clients entrusted it with discretionary investment mandates in an automated crypto trading strategy.

The DA has removed Burke from its finance structures, while the ANC and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) call for a thorough investigation and potential criminal charges against Burke and Kastelo. The allegations pose a significant challenge, implicating unauthorised use of others' money, concealment of offshore accounts, and deception of the central bank.