=The investigation - a joint operation between the SA Revenue Service, Asset Forfeiture Unit, Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority - has allegedly uncovered corruption in at least 38 Limpopo government departments and sub-departments.

Malema's name has been linked to many of the allegations, The Times has been reliably informed.

The investigation was conducted over the past four months.

Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela yesterday confirmed the latest investigation.

"It stems from a cabinet directive issued earlier this year," Polela said.

Malema is also facing a separate money-laundering charge and is in trouble with the tax man to the tune of at least R16-million.

The latest investigation has apparently uncovered fraud involving hundreds of millions of rand.

A number of Malema's business associates allegedly have links with the Limpopo government and its various tender bid adjudicating committees .

Malema could not be reached yesterday.

His attorney, Nicqui Galaktiou, said she had "no knowledge" of the investigation.

On Wednesday, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a damning report into the R50-million construction tender that the Limpopo provincial government awarded to On-Point Engineering, a company that Malema was initially a director of.

Madonsela berated the head of the Limpopo government's roads and transport department, Ntau Letebele, for irregularly awarding the tender to On-Point and recommended he face disciplinary action.

Despite Madonsela's findings, Letebele has not been suspended.

A member of the anti-corruption task team said what had been uncovered in the investigation was "unimaginable".

"What we are seeing here is a massive, systemic problem involving widespread corruption - greasing the palms of numerous government officials and businessmen.

"What the public protector uncovered between On-Point and the Limpopo government is child's play," he said.

He said the investigators were scrutinising the role Malema's "business associates" played in securing lucrative tenders "for which little or no work had been done".

Polela said the investigation was the second phase of a much larger investigation into fraud, corruption and other criminal activities in the Limpopo government.

Asked to name the departments under investigation, how much money was involved and whether any arrests had been made, Polela declined to comment.

"The investigation is in its initial stages," he said.

Asked if the investigators had received the public protector's report and studied the evidence she had gathered, Polela said they were still waiting for it.

When asked what action would be taken against Letebele, Limpopo roads and transport department spokesman Joshua Kwapa said: "The MEC has only just received the report. He is perusing it. Once finished he will make his decision. He views the allegations as serious, but he will not be forced to do anything until he is ready," Kwapa said.