Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts about this donor come from
Every fact on the donor page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What did the parties declare?
The IEC funding reports
This donor gave the DA 3 donations worth R404 000, as declared to the IEC. They were made between July 2025 and March 2026.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 28 November 2025.
Where to look: PDF page 1, late submissions table, under DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE: "30/08/2025, DR MARK JOHN BURKE, MONETARY"
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 27 February 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 1, section 9(1) table, under DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE: "27/12/2025, DR MJ BURKE, MONETARY"
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 29 May 2026.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
What has been reported?
Official records and news
EWN reported on 13 April 2026 that Burke had been elected chairperson of the DA's Federal Finance Committee.
EWN. Published 13 April 2026.
Where to look: Quote attribution in body: "said Mark Burke, newly elected DA Federal Finance Committee chairperson"
The Sunday Times reported that the Reserve Bank is investigating Kastelo over about R4 billion in transfers. They allegedly get around exchange-control rules, which limit moving money into and out of South Africa. Kastelo denied the allegations, and no court has ruled on them.
Sunday Times. Published 18 August 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 1: "the Reserve Bank investigates his fintech company over about R4bn in transactions that allegedly circumvent exchange control rules"; paragraph 2: "Burke, one of the DA’s donors, is at the centre of a legal battle between Kastelo, the company he founded, and the South African Reserve Bank after the central bank moved to freeze some of its funds held with Access Bank."; later paragraphs: "Kastelo has denied the allegations."; "“Mark Burke is no longer the chairperson of Kastelo and is not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations,” Hill-Lewis told Sunday Times. He said no allegations of wrongdoing had been made against Burke personally"
The same report said Kastelo is in a legal fight with the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank had moved to freeze some Kastelo money held at Access Bank. We found no later report on where the case stands.
Sunday Times. Published 18 August 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 1: "the Reserve Bank investigates his fintech company over about R4bn in transactions that allegedly circumvent exchange control rules"; paragraph 2: "Burke, one of the DA’s donors, is at the centre of a legal battle between Kastelo, the company he founded, and the South African Reserve Bank after the central bank moved to freeze some of its funds held with Access Bank."; later paragraphs: "Kastelo has denied the allegations."; "“Mark Burke is no longer the chairperson of Kastelo and is not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations,” Hill-Lewis told Sunday Times. He said no allegations of wrongdoing had been made against Burke personally"
The report said DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis stood by Burke. He said no one had made allegations of wrongdoing against Burke himself, and that Burke no longer chairs Kastelo.
Sunday Times. Published 18 August 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 1: "the Reserve Bank investigates his fintech company over about R4bn in transactions that allegedly circumvent exchange control rules"; paragraph 2: "Burke, one of the DA’s donors, is at the centre of a legal battle between Kastelo, the company he founded, and the South African Reserve Bank after the central bank moved to freeze some of its funds held with Access Bank."; later paragraphs: "Kastelo has denied the allegations."; "“Mark Burke is no longer the chairperson of Kastelo and is not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations,” Hill-Lewis told Sunday Times. He said no allegations of wrongdoing had been made against Burke personally"
TimesLIVE reported on 19 August 2026 that Burke denied any wrongdoing. He stepped back from Parliament's finance committee, but stayed an MP.
TimesLIVE. Published 19 August 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 2: "Despite remaining an ordinary MP, Burke will no longer serve on the finance committee or in the cluster"; later: "Burke, in a joint statement with DA federal council chairperson Ashor Sarupen, denied any wrongdoing"
The IEC's July to September 2025 report lists this DA donor as "DR MARK JOHN BURKE".
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 28 November 2025.
Where to look: PDF page 1, late submissions table, under DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE: "30/08/2025, DR MARK JOHN BURKE, MONETARY"
The IEC's reports for October 2025 to March 2026 list a DA donor as "DR MJ BURKE". We treat this as the same donor because the title, initials, surname, party and year match.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 27 February 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 1, section 9(1) table, under DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE: "27/12/2025, DR MJ BURKE, MONETARY"
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