The African National Congress (ANC) Parliamentary caucus on Monday lauded the decision for President Jacob Zuma to make his 2010 State of the Nation address to Parliament on February 11 - the twentieth anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela's release from prison.

"This will be a fitting tribute to the father of our nation and many others who made immense sacrifices in the course of the fight for the liberation of our people," it said in a statement.

Mandela's release on February 11, 1990 was a watershed moment in the history of South Africa.

It represented the victory of the people's struggle against apartheid and paved the way for the democratic government, which Mandela led as the first democratically elected president between 1994 and 1999.

In his first address to the two Houses of Parliament on May 24, 1994, Mandela committed his government to the creation of a people-centred society of liberty for the attainment "of the goals of freedom from want, freedom from hunger, freedom from deprivation, freedom from ignorance, freedom from suppression and freedom from fear".

"Today we can say without fear of contradiction that, challenges notwithstanding, we have done remarkably in the process of achieving these freedoms for which many of our people struggled, and even died.

"The Presidency must be applauded for deciding on this special occasion and ensuring that, for the first time since 1994, the President's address takes place in the evening so that the majority of South Africans can form part of the event from the comfort of their homes," the ANC said.

Earlier, Parliamentary officials confirmed that the opening of Parliament next month would take place in the evening for the first time in the history of the legislature.

"We have received that request from the presidency that the opening be on Thursday evening and we have acceded to the request," the head of communications in Parliament, Luzuko Jacobs, said.

Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation address at 7pm on Thursday, February 11, his office also confirmed.

Parliament traditionally opens on a Friday morning, with the President's speech to a joint sitting of the houses of the legislature starting at 11am.

Zuma's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that the unprecedented change was made to allow more South Africans the opportunity to follow the President's message on television.

"The President changed the time to 7pm to afford all South Africans, especially the workers, students and schoolchildren an opportunity to watch the proceedings in their homes after hours.

"The majority of workers do not have access to television sets at work, while students and schoolchildren are naturally unable to watch due to study commitments during the day when this is an important occasion for them as well."

Magwenya said that Zuma chose the date of February 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of former president Nelson Mandela from prison.

"The day will bring all South Africans together to mark the defining moment in the history of the country, including the unbanning of organisations which had happened on the 2nd of February."

He said that the President's speech would "celebrate national unity and reconciliation".

Jacobs said the State of the Nation address would be preceded by the usual military parade and red-carpet reception of Members of Parliament.