The paper explores the issue of gender mainstreaming in government, with a bias to senior management in local government. It asserts that since democracy, South Africa has committed to the promotion of gender equality through various pieces of legislation and policy initiatives, and is a signatory to various international and regional gender instruments. Notwithstanding the general strides achieved in the public sector, there are concerns with regard to the slow rate at which women are occupying positions in the higher echelons of local government. By its very nature, local government is closest to the people - for which reason women in leadership and senior management would send a positive message to women entering the employment arena. Also, given that South Africa is a developing state, all spheres of government need to be proactive in addressing the inequities of the past.