PagineDie Besluit
A free picture book in Afrikaans by Ursula Nafula
Die Besluit is a picture book in Afrikaans for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Afrikaans
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Willemien Wannberg
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa, Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Die Besluit is a short illustrated picture book in Afrikaans by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Willemien Wannberg. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Afrikaans. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
My dorpie het baie probleme gehad. Ons het in ‘n lang ry gestaan om van een kraan af water te kry. Ons het gewag vir kos wat deur ander mense geskenk word. Ons het vroeg reeds ons huise gesluit teen…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Die Besluit” is also available in:
- Bemba · Ukusalapo
- English · Decision
- Jamaican Creole · Disizhan
- Kaonde · Kufuukula
- Khoekhoegowab · Mîǁguib
- Kichaga · Irikiana
- Kiswahili · Uamuzi
- Lukhonzo · Eritwamo
- Lunda · Kuzhina
- Luvale · Kusakula
- Mauritian Creole · Desizion
- Nyanja · Ganizo
- Oshikwanyama · Etokolo
- Oshindonga · Etokolo
- Otjiherero · Omazuvasaneno
- Sesotho · Qeto
- Somali · Go’aan
- Spanish · La decisión
- Tonga · Kusala
- Tswana · Tshwetso
- Turkana · Atiakun Akiroit
- Xhosa · Isigqibo
Reading together in Afrikaans
- Read it aloud first, pointing at the pictures; then let your child “read” the pictures back to you.
- Ask open questions: what happened, how did the character feel, what would you do?
- Growing up with two languages? Talk about the story in whichever language feels easiest — the understanding carries over.
More free books in Afrikaans
Die Beste Ding Ooit
Is Daar Nog Iemand Soos Ek?
Oupa se Goud
Magozwe
Maguru Deel Bene Uit
Hoe Mier vir Duif Red
Ek Hou Van Lees
Vuur
See all 143 free Afrikaans books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Die Besluit” free to read?
Yes. “Die Besluit” is free to read online in Pagine on any phone, tablet or computer — no payment and nothing to download. It is openly licensed (CC BY 4.0).
What language is “Die Besluit” in?
It is written in Afrikaans. Pagine has 143 free children’s books in Afrikaans.
What age is “Die Besluit” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Die Besluit” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Xhosa, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Die Besluit”?
“Die Besluit” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Afrikaans translation is by Willemien Wannberg.
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Get the free app →Credits: Die Besluit — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Willemien Wannberg; Read by Willemien Wannberg. Afrikaans, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13304). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026