The Free State ANC leadership has appealed to the province's hospitality industry not to inflate prices for accommodation ahead of its centenary celebrations, according to a newspaper report on Monday.

"Exploitation of visitors has always been a problem. The tripling of accommodation rates is a turn-off. Role players in the industry should come together and solve the problem," African National Congress provincial secretary general Sibongile Besani.

Apart from the shortage of accommodation in Bloemfontein, there were also worries that operators may increase rates.

Besani said there were 26,000 beds available, far fewer than the number of more than 100,000 visitors expected for 100th year celebrations since ANC was launched in Bloemfontein in 1912.

Last week, the ANC said the birthday celebrations would cost more than R100 million.

"It will not cost less than R100 million, it is costly," ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete told reporters in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"It is not cheap but we believe... it is worth it. Future and younger generations need to know where we come from."

Source: Sapa