South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has said public representatives will undergo “lifestyle audits” as part of his campaign to clean up the government.

Mr Ramaphosa said the scrutiny will start with the executive branch, and hailed a similar plan announced by the national police commissioner for the “high echelon” of the force.

The president spoke in parliament as part of a debate following his first state of the nation address on Friday.

Mr Ramaphosa, a former deputy president, took office after the resignation of Jacob Zuma, whose tenure was marred by scandals.

The new president said authorities will also target tax evaders and corruption in the private sector.

He said: “We can never think that corruption is a monopoly of the public sector only.”