Johannesburg - The ANC hopes to cash in Mangaung with business people paying to rub shoulder's with the party's elite, it was reported on Sunday.
Businessperson Patrice Motsepe had already paid R500 000 to sit next to President Jacob Zuma, The Sunday Times reported.
According to the newspaper, other business people were paying between R25 000 and R350 000 to mingle with ANC heavyweights.
Major private sector companies had also already booked and paid for their seats the conference in December.
They included Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank and Cell C.
ANC Progressive Business Forum co-convener Daryl Swanepoel told the newspaper the proceeds would go "towards offsetting the costs of the main conference".
Conference organisers expected about 750 guests to attend a banquet at the conference.
According to media reports at the weekend, other funding would come from companies seeking exhibition space at the event.