Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni is talking tough on Investec once again, CNBC Africa said on its website on Thursday.

The Financial Services Board confirmed on Wednesday that it had received a request to probe the possibility of malpractice by Investec Asset Management

Earlier on Wednesday, trade union Solidarity said it had asked the FSB to investigate Investec Asset Management's actions following its announcement that the inflation rate was incorrectly calculated and that interest rates were – as a consequence – two percent higher than they should be.

Solidarity alleged that the so-called "inflation announcement" was made to boost Investec's share price.

"Mboweni says Investec, the country's fifth largest bank, tried to force the monetary policy committee's hand on interest rates by publishing a report suggesting the country's inflation was lower than official statistics showed."

Mboweni said Investec would now have to explain its position to the Financial Services Board "after it jumped the gun".

Investec Asset Management chief executive officer Hendrik du Toit wasn't available for comment on the matter, CNBC Africa said.

Mboweni was interviewed by CNBC Africa on Thursday morning.

Sapa