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The lawyers acting for 270 people charged in relation to the Marikana tragedy wrote an open letter to President Jacob Zuma yesterday, 31 August, demanding that he secures the release of the suspects from custody by 13h00 tomorrow .

The President cannot accede to the demand.

The President has instituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by Judge Ian Farlam, with broad terms of reference in order to establish the facts and make recommendations to him regarding the tragic incidents that took place in Marikana from around the 10th to the 16th of August.

In deference to our constitutional democracy, President Zuma will not interfere in the work of the Marikana Commission or any other processes, including the prosecution of persons associated with the tragedy.

The President is required to uphold the Constitution at all times and he respects the independence of all institutions created to ensure the smooth functioning of our Constitutional democracy, including those in the legal sphere, which need to execute their responsibilities without fear, favour or interference.