Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan welcomed five new citizens to the Clutha district yesterday, including Dr Abraham Visagie and wife Heidi.
Dr Visagie moved from his home in western Transvaal, South Africa, to Owaka in October 1995.
''We came to the country through a Rotary [International] exchange about two years before ... we loved the South Island.''
He worked with Dr Alison Cook at the Catlins Medical Centre until the end of 1998 when he began working at the newly opened Clutha Health First, Balclutha's hospital.
The couple have since moved to Romahapa, near Balclutha.
Dr Visagie said he and his wife were happy to become citizens.
''We knew immediately that we never wanted to leave ... we just never got around to ticking the boxes,'' he said yesterday.
Johannes Jordaan, of South Africa, Hannah Lawrence, of Britain, and Natalie Malone, of South Africa, also became citizens yesterday.
Each new citizen was presented with a kowhai tree, after swearing their allegiance to the Queen before a full Clutha District Council in Balclutha.
