Cape Town - The Hawks' specialised commercial crime unit is investigating possible criminal charges of fraud and corruption against Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola.

McIntosh Polela, a Hawks spokesperson, told Die Burger they are investigating the whole of CSA and its employees, which includes Majola.

Polela says the investigation started long before the Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, ordered a commission of inquiry into CSA's finances after the apparent misappropriation of some R4,7m bonuses paid out to CSA staff after the country's hosting of the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL).

Majola received a bonus of R1,8m but never revealed it to CSA's executive council.

The CSA board in March this year suspended Majola for one year on full pay after the commission of inquiry, led by retired retired judge Chris Nicholson, found that Majola was the dominant force in the allocation of bonuses. Majola was found to have breached the Companies Act at least four times.

Polela says they started with their inquiry after former CSA president, Mtutuzeli Nyoka, made them aware of possible fraud and corruption within the governing body. It is believed that there is a longstanding feud between Nyoka and Majola.

When Mbalula ordered a commission of inquiry, the Hawks stood back to allow the Nicholson inquiry to complete its investigation.

The Hawks then continued with their investigation when Nicholson made the findings of the inquiry public on 9 March.