M.Cur. (Professional Nursing) / The nursing service manager in local goverment is confronted by extensive changes in the health care delivery system. The communities need to work towards better health but in turn it ask for competent leadership from the nursing service manager. The nursing service manager is accountable for the nursing component of services in the personal health services and should focus in on quality control, in the preventative and primary health care services. It appears that leadership development of the nursing service manager in the local goverment does not receive the attention that it should. The question that offers leadership manager and if so needs to be asked, is whether local government development programs for the nursing service what is the nature and extent of the program? What is the predominant leadership style that the nursing service manager is using from within the situational leadership theory? What guidelines for a leadership development program for nursing service managers should be formulated? The objectives of this study is to investigate what the nature and extent of leadership development for the nursing service manager in the local government in the Pretoria, Witwatersrand and Vaal triangle is. The second objective is to determine the leadership style of the nursing service manager in the local government in the Pretoria, Witwatersrand and· Vaal triangle. The third objective is to develop guidelines for a leadership development program for nursing service managers in local government from within the framework of the situational leadership theory, based on the results of the study. An explorative, descriptive research design within the context was used to answer to the objectives set for this study. The research methods consist of a interview with a interview guide that was used to determine the nature and extent of leadership development that the nursing service manager receives. Secondly an evaluation was done with the aid of the LEAD-Self and LEADOthers instruments. The situational theory was the Whole Person Theory study. The researcher found that most of the nursing managers are working in the two biggest local governments and the predominant designation is that of chief community health nurse. The nursing service managers have the applicable clinical ability in community health nursing science. The findings are as follows The majority of nursing service managers in this study are working in the two largest local governments. The designation of community health nurse is the most common designation for the nursing service managers. The nursing service manager possesses the appropriate clinical experience in community health nursing. The researcher found that seven (38.9%) of the leaders are busy with formal leadership development by means of further studies, which points to positive motivation. The results show that . leadership development of the service manager does not receive the necessary attention should receive. nursing that it The primary managers are style three. leadership style that most of the nursing service using according to their own perception is that of This style is also known as the style of participation which is high in support and low in direction giving. According to the followers perception, the nursing service manager uses style two as the primary style. This style is both high in support and direction giving and it is also known as the selling style. Guidelines for the development program are set out accordingly curriculum development.