The Stellenbosch Municipality has a new acting director for corporate services with Dr Lungelwa Kaywood stepping into the role.
The municipality welcomed Kaywood this week in an official statement, saying she is a “seasoned local government professional “. Kaywood is no stranger to the City of Oaks and has had to ties to Stellenbosch University for years.
Kaywood holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Law and Development and her career includes extensive research within the public sector as well as Deputy City Manager: Corporate Services at the City of uMhlathuze.
During a presentation at the Chartered Institute of Government Finance, Audit & Risk Officers (CIGFARO) event, Kaywood explained that her journey to the public sector was not a straight one but all the twists and turns added great value to her professional path. Here Kaywood explained that she wanted to study law after matric but she “needed a bit of help”. Responding to an advertisement by the Buffalo City Municipality Kaywood applied for a bursary but as law was not under the approved programmes, decided to pursue a national diploma in local government finance. “I did not know what it was but I thought if I chose something that nobody knows I might stand a better change [of receiving the bursary],” she explained.
For the next two decades Kaywood worked in the public sector leadership, governance and administration, including as researcher for the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
At the Stellenbosch Municipality Kaywood will oversee several departments, including Administrative Services, Legal and Compliance, Human Resources Management, Individual Performance Management, Information and Communication Technology, Councillor Support, Committee Services, Municipal Court, as well as Properties Management and Municipal Building Maintenance.
According to the municipality: “Her wealth of leadership experience and deep understanding of local government will strengthen service delivery, organisational efficiency and governance across the municipality. Her appointment will not only benefit staff through strong institutional leadership and support, but also enhance the municipality’s ability to serve communities effectively, responsibly and with excellence.”
Kaywood steps into a position that the Stellenbosch Municipality has found challenging to fill. The post was repeatedly advertised after the first round of recruitment and selection “did not yield positive outcomes due to the quality of the applications received” the municipality has previously stated.
Various officials of the municipality formerly held the position in an acting capacity, including Human Resources Manager Alexander Kannemeyer. Kannemeyer temporarily held position in 2025 when a video of a 2023 meeting in which he made race-based comments about the appointments of senior officials was leaked on social media. The municipal council sought to dismiss Kannemeyer but subsequently he resigned from the acting role. The municipality’s chief legal advisor Mervin Williams also temporarily held the position from October 2025 until the end of that year.
