Buthelezi withdrew from his position as chairperson of the house last week after serving in that position since 2006.

On Thursday he released a statement on his weekly online letter defending his decision.

His move to step down has been seen by some as the final nail in his political coffin.

But the aging leader has hit back at his critics.

He has called reports of his so-called political death an "exaggeration" and "absurd".

But the political mud stinging continues unabated with Buthelezi accusing the African National Congress leadership of bribing the Amakhosi, saying the democracy has now become the biggest threat to traditional leadership.