Stories with Life Lessons

Koketso’s favourite jersey

Monday is always a big wash day in Granny’s house. Every Monday, early in the morning, Granny takes out the big tin washtub and puts it on the table in the yard. Then she boils water in the kettle. She has to boil lots and lots of kettles to fill ...

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Stone soup

Once upon a time a man was walking home after he had been travelling in different parts of Africa for many years. He was thin and hungry, and his money was gone. “I’m so tired,” he said to himself as he trudged along the road. “I wish I was ...

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The glass mountain

A long time ago, the place at the foot of Table Mountain that we now call Cape Town, was dry and empty. At that time, it was said that Table Mountain was made of glass and that a magic dassie who granted wishes, lived at the very ...

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The farmer and his family

A long time ago in Limpopo, there lived a farmer and his family – his donkey, his pig, his dog, his cat and his rooster. They all lived happily together on the farm. Then one day the rain stopped and there was no more water. The vegetables could ...

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Thoko’s special soup

It was a cold and rainy morning. Mama was dressed in her warm coat and scarf. “Thoko,” said Mama, “I’m going into Cape Town for a job interview. I’ll be back in time for supper.”

Gogo and Thoko watched through the window as Mama ...

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The lark and the pomegranate tree

Every morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, a little lark flew from its nest, perched on a branch of a pomegranate tree, stretched its wings, lifted its head and began to sing the most beautiful song to welcome the morning light.

...

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Lwazi and the go-kart

One day Lwazi found an old push chair in the empty field near his home. It was broken, but it had four good wheels. He took them off and looked at them. “I wonder what I should make,” he thought. “I know, I’ll make a go-kart.”

...

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The feast

Papa Smuts was a fisherman. But, fish were not as plentiful as they used to be and some days he came home empty handed. Then poor Papa Smuts would feel really downhearted.

That’s when Mama Smuts would give him a big hug and say, “We’ll ...

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A little bit

When Sibu moved into iLanga Avenue, Mrs Magona told all the neighbours to bring a little bit of this and a little bit of that, to welcome him. So Sibu made good friends. They liked him and he liked them.

Unfortunately there was one thing that ...

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Ntatu and the Bommelak Tree

A long time ago – before your grandfather and his grandfather and even his grandfather – Day and Night were not shy. They walked on the earth just like you.

Every morning, Day would wake up from his sleep. He would wash his face in the ...

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