South African business and government leaders vowed on Thursday to continue to root out corruption, as the world commemorated International Anti-Corruption Day.

Vice president of Business Unity South Africa, Futhi Mtoba, called for "corporate accountability" and said corruption was increasing the cost of doing business in the country.

"We need business leaders to continue to commit to increase accountability and responsibility and contribute to efforts of ensuring an ethical public sector," he said in a statement released by the Public Service and Administration Department.

"The effects of corruption include increased cost of doing business, exploitative working conditions and poor products such as badly built houses and buildings.

"We as business need to recognise and reward individual members within our companies as we all take a collective responsibility to fighting this scourge."

Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi called for individuals to resist taking part in corrupt activities.

"If we all individually take the stand against corruption, the battle against this scourge will be won."