It is the responsibility of both government and business, in partnership to ensure that the citizens of South Africa enjoy an adequate standard of living and are able to feel a basic fulfillment in their everyday lives. Without certain core skills, such as reading and writing this is simply unachievable. Without literacy and numeracy the best that the average South African can hope for is a life of menial labour. If South Africa is to reach its millennium development goals then more and more emphasis needs to be placed on Adult Basic education and Training. Only with added focus on this area can its citizens look forward to an ever improving quality of life.