The ANC's centenary celebrations in the Free State were a "runaway success", the party said on Tuesday.
"It was a wonderful and successful centenary celebration," ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu told reporters in Bloemfontein.
Due to the party's plan, all venues for Sunday's big event were filled to capacity — Bloemfontein's Free State stadium, the neighbouring athletic and cricket stadiums and the park at Loch Logan.
Mthembu said security guards had their hands full redirecting people to new venues and eventually had to advise them to watch the main events on TV at houses or hotels.
"It was beyond our expectations."
Mthembu thanked the event's sponsors, the Mangaung municipality's residents who opened up their homes, and the media for the successful and incident-free event.
'We are honest people'
Mthembu said the public's generosity had once again confirmed the ANC remained a people's organisation, irrespective of class and ideology.
He said more heads of state, former heads of state and government leaders had arrived than expected, and the coverage the event enjoyed overseas was huge.
He apologised for "glitches" with the accreditation process which had affected everybody from heads of state, to guests, performers, the media and service providers. Party officials planned to meet with the different groups and apologise in person.
"We are honest people, the ANC. We messed up in a few aspects but with the majority of the individuals and groups it went very well."
Mthembu said because the party had underestimated the scale of the event no one was spared any inconvenience at some stage.
On Tuesday, the ANC's centenary flame was already in Brandfort as the provincial programme of the party's centenary celebrations started. Every province would host the flame and focus on provincial events during the coming year.
The ANC would return to Bloemfontein in December 2012 for its elective conference. — Sapa