The government of South Africa is committed to fight corruption in all its forms and manifestations, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, said on Monday.

She was speaking at Emperor's Palace at the 7th Annual Fraud Conference.

"We as the government of SA would like to assure you that our resolve to fight corruption and bribery in all its forms is still strong," Fraser-Moleketi said.

"This includes corruption not only in the public and private sectors but also in the interactions between public officials in foreign transactions."

The fight against corruption was ongoing and as new manifestations were revealed, new tools, laws and policies to respond were needed.

The two-day conference will look at South Africa's role in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and instruments to combat bribery of international officials.

Fraser-Moleketi told delegates that through corruption, global governments had lost billions of dollars.

"This is money that could be utilised to alleviate poverty and significantly contribute to the upliftment of the poor or the growth of the economy."

The minister said it was in the developing world that effects of corruption were being felt the most.

She said huge sums of money were misappropriated and used to line the pockets of thieves and criminals.

"If we all play our part as we should we will go a long way in ensuring that bribery in international business transactions is eradicated."

She called on all countries to share a responsibility in combating bribery in international business transactions.

Delegates attending the conference comprise members from the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (Ilasa) and the South African Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Sapa