Former South African president Nelson Mandela announced his retirement from public life Tuesday, saying he was "retiring from retirement,"  report agencies.

"I'm turning 86 in a few weeks time and that's a longer life than most people are granted. I have the added blessing of being in very good health, at least according to my doctors. I'm confident that nobody present here today will accuse me of selfishness if I asked to spend time, while I'm still in good heath, with my family, my friends and also with myself," he told a press conference in Johannesburg.

Joking about his gruelling schedule after retiring as president in 1999, he said he would now prefer to devote time to  reading, thinking and quiet reflection and working on his memoirs. 

"When I told one of my advisers a few months ago that I wanted to retire he growled at me: 'You are retired.' If that is really the case then I should say I now announce that I am retiring from retirement," he said.

Therefore,  "Don't call me, I'll call you," he said.