Liberty, a division of Standard Bank’s Insurance and Asset Management Business, has committed R1 million in funding, office space at its Braamfontein campus, and business resources to support NOVAR, an innovative educational app developed by two self-taught developers from Limpopo.

From TikTok to Transformation: How NOVAR Caught Liberty’s Attention

The inspiring story of Marvel Shibambu and Malunghelo Mathonsi, two young developers from Gumbani village, went viral after content creator Cool Story Bru shared their journey on TikTok. With no formal training, limited resources, and just R700 to buy a second-hand PC, the duo taught themselves to code via YouTube and built NOVAR—a free learning app designed to help South African high school students access quality study materials.

The viral video caught the attention of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, which approached Liberty to partner in supporting the entrepreneurs.

Why Liberty Backed NOVAR

In just five months, NOVAR has been downloaded over 50,000 times, proving its impact on learners. Amelia Beattie, Head of Business Efficiencies, Property, and Sustainable Impact at Standard Bank Insurance and Asset Management, stated:

“Education is the most powerful driver of long-term economic freedom. NOVAR is an African-born, future-facing solution—built by young Africans, for Africans. Our support isn’t just about funding; it’s about leading a movement that redefines education access and positions corporate social investment as a catalyst for systemic change.”

How the Funding Will Help Scale NOVAR

As part of Liberty’s #DriveHope campaign, the R1 million investment will help NOVAR:

• Expand its free learning content, keeping education accessible.
• Support matric students during exam season with tailored resources.
• Reach 500,000+ learners across South Africa and other African countries.
• Deliver 1,000+ hours of interactive lessons, including live tutorials for 10,000+ rural students.

Marvel Shibambu, co-founder of NOVAR, expressed gratitude:

“We never imagined we’d come this far. Our dream was always to create a free, transformative education tool for South Africa. With Liberty’s support, this is just the beginning.”

The partnership was formalised this week at a media event hosted in Johannesburg, where the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, joined representatives from Liberty, and NOVAR to announce this cross-sector collaboration