Two young men from a tiny Limpopo village just reminded South Africa what’s possible when passion, purpose and a second-hand computer collide. We sat down with the founders of NOVAR.
Limpopo, South Africa (12 May 2025) – In early May, a heartwarming story from Limpopo captured the nation’s attention. An educational app called NOVAR, developed by two self-taught friends, went viral after a TikTok video by the popular account Cool Story Bru showcased their journey. What happened next was nothing short of inspiring. South Africans rallied together, donating over R160,000 to help the young developers grow their dream.
We sat down with the founders of NOVAR to unpack what their app is all about and what’s happened since their overnight fame.
@coolstorybru_ These two South African men from a rural village in Limpopo have invented a game-changing app 😍🇿🇦👏 @Shibambu Marvel @Malunghelo 1Drop #southafrica #tiktoksouthafrica🇿🇦 ♬ original sound – Cool Story Bru! 🇿🇦
Marvel Shibambu and Malunghelo Mathonsi grew up as best friends in Gumbani, a small, under-resourced village in Limpopo. With no formal training in coding and no proper equipment, they shared a bold vision: to improve education for students like themselves.
“We didn’t even have a computer at first,” Marvel recalls. “We saved up just R700 to buy a second-hand PC and started learning to code from YouTube videos.”
Against all odds, the duo taught themselves programming from scratch and built an app they named NOVAR, aimed at providing free learning resources to high schoolers across South Africa. In just a few months, NOVAR has been downloaded tens of thousands of times by eager learners, proving that their hard work is paying off.
The turning point came when Cool Story Bru, a Cape Town-based content creator known for highlighting uplifting South African stories, shared Marvel and Malunghelo’s journey. The response was instantaneous.
“I actually cannot believe this is happening – we have raised 80,000 rand in 24 hours for the NOVAR app gents!” exclaimed the content creator in a follow-up update.
Donations poured in from across the country as people were moved by the friends’ determination. Within days, the founders’ crowdfunding campaign surpassed R120,000… and it’s now well over R160,000. These funds, they say, will be used to make the app completely free for all learners and to improve the platform’s offerings.
“We were stunned by how strangers believed in us,” says Malunghelo. “It’s not just about the money – it’s about knowing that our country believes in our vision. That encouragement fuels us to work even harder.”
The friends have even begun speaking with potential partners who could help take NOVAR to the next level. Buoyed by the nation’s enthusiasm, they are more motivated than ever to keep improving South African education one download at a time.
@shibambumarvel1Best time to be a learner I guess. let’s get as many people in to the NOVAR app. amazing announcements coming up this week♬ Clouds – Aitan A.I.
What exactly is the NOVAR App? Despite the viral buzz, NOVAR itself remains humble in its current form. Essentially a social media-style feed filled with educational content that Marvel and Malunghelo curate and upload themselves.
“Think of it like an educational community platform,” Marvel explains. “We have different sections for learners to explore.”
The duo say that the app’s interface is divided into several hubs and features. From “short lessons” to news and events.
“Right now, we upload most of the content ourselves,” Marvel says. “We pull together useful videos or create our own mini-lessons to share. It’s all about making learning fun and accessible.”
Some features are still basic, but the founders have big plans to enrich the content as their user base grows.
South Africa is incredibly fortunate to have a wide range of free educational tools available to learners. From national platforms to grassroots innovations, there’s a growing ecosystem of support. NOVAR joins this inspiring list. Not to compete but to contribute.
Speaking with the NOVAR founders, one thing is abundantly clear: their passion for education is infectious. These self-taught developers have faced down many challenges… from unreliable internet to an ageing second-hand computer, yet they never gave up.
“There were nights we felt stuck or frustrated,” Marvel admits. “But then we’d remember why we started this. We want to help even one kid get a better education. That kept us going.”
Now, with thousands of users and an entire country cheering them on, the duo is looking ahead. They plan to expand NOVAR’s content library, bring on qualified educators and mentors and refine the app’s technology.
“This is just the beginning,” Malunghelo smiles. “We have so many ideas… from adding more subjects and exam prep tools to maybe one day offering live tutoring. The support we’ve received makes us believe all of it is possible.”
For Marvel and Malunghelo, it all comes down to a simple belief.
“Education should never be a privilege; it should be a right,” Marvel says.
Their journey shows what’s possible when innovation meets determination. The app might not transform the education system overnight but it has already brought hope and excitement to students and supporters alike.
Perhaps the greatest lesson from NOVAR’s rise is the reminder that good news can bring people together. At a time when South Africa’s challenges often make headlines, this story of two young men from rural Limpopo, armed with nothing but a dream and a donated computer, has inspired a nation to rally behind them. It’s a story of community, possibility and the power of believing in something good. South Africans have opened their hearts (and wallets) to back Marvel and Malunghelo’s vision. And in turn, these founders are paying it forward by empowering the next generation of learners.
That’s the kind of positive cycle we can all celebrate.
@shibambumarvel1NOVAR: A Revolution Born in the Heart of Limpopo NOVAR is more than just an app—it is a dream, a purpose, and a promise born in the humble village of Gumbani in Malamulele, Limpopo. It was co-founded by Shibambu Mikhongelo Marvel and Malunghelo Mathonsi, two extraordinary young men shaped by their environment but driven by a vision far greater than their circumstances. Growing up in a rural village, Mikhongelo Marvel knew hardship intimately. His school had cracked chalkboards, no science labs, and no stable access to internet or technology. But his spirit was unshakable. He rose above, becoming not only a top learner at his school, but one of the brightest minds in his district and province. Yet, even as he excelled, he watched his classmates fall behind—not because they lacked potential, but because they lacked opportunity. Haunted by the inequality he witnessed, Marvel made himself a quiet promise: no child should ever be left behind simply because of where they were born. NOVAR is the fulfillment of that promise. It’s his way of rewriting not just his own past, but the story of thousands of learners across South Africa. By his side stands Malunghelo Mathonsi, a self-taught software developer with a heart as big as his dreams. From the same dusty village paths, Malunghelo taught himself to code using borrowed devices and public Wi-Fi spots. His love for technology was fueled by one thing: the desire to solve problems that matter. Together, these two visionaries became co-founders of NOVAR. NOVAR is an innovative, online learning platform built to give every learner—no matter their background—access to world-class education. With zero funding, no presence yet on iOS due to limited resources, and against all odds, NOVAR has already crossed 35,000+ downloads on the Google Play Store. The app is being used by over 5,000 active learners daily, many of whom rely on it as their lifeline to learning. But beyond numbers, NOVAR is a movement. A symbol of what can happen when resilience meets purpose. When rural dreams refuse to be silenced. When two village boys dare to believe that they can build a global education giant—from nothing but hope, grit, and faith. Marvel sees NOVAR as more than a business. To him, it’s redemption. It’s healing. It’s a love letter to every forgotten learner, every dusty classroom, and every teacher who tried their best with too little. It’s about giving today’s learners the future he once wished for himself. The journey is just beginning. NOVAR is not just changing education—it’s changing lives.♬ Ordinary – Alex Warren
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I am pretty sure even the Ndlovu Youth Choir comes out of Limpopo… a little village with a whole lot of love!