Niyaaz Isaacs

Rebelling against the norm

Niyaaz Isaacs started from humble beginnings. Following tremendous success over the years, he remains humble. His journey continues, now taking LibeRebil to new heights…

Words: Niyaaz Isaacs liberebil

My passion for cars was ignited at an early age. My father would buy vehicles that weren't well cared for, as it was all he could a ord, and fix them up. However, the journey of following this passion didn’t start easy. I was bullied pretty severely at primary school. I felt utterly alone. (I guess when you act di erently from what’s considered the norm, you’re singled out and thrown aside.)

However, one day, while walking to the mosque, a silver Nissan 350Z drove past, its engine revving to the red line. For those 10 seconds, I felt safe and happy and motivated. I clearly remember telling myself, “Niyaaz, one day, you’ll get to drive all the cars in the world.” Little did I know that in years to come, my YouTube channel would grow to a point where this would become a possibility.

At the time of writing, LibeRebil is nearing 65 000 subscribers. The channel has been through various changes. Over the past couple of years, owing to the COVID-19 restrictions, I had to adapt. However, it’s nearly back to its pre-lockdown glory.

When I started the channel, I filmed drag races at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town. I added feature videos of the cars racing so the audience could learn more about the drivers and the vehicle. Now I also drive and test new cars and film them.

From an outside point of view, it seems great. However, creating content in South Africa is challenging. I wish there was more financial backing for YouTubers. But, as they say, all good things take time. And it takes time to grow a YouTube channel.

That said, I’m excited to share that our team is currently developing a smartphone application for the LibeRebil community. It’s a car classifieds app. Some of you may be asking why, as many classifieds are already available. The reason is that many people, including myself, friends and family, have been victims of scammers when buying a car, and some even get ripped o when trying to fix or modify their vehicles. I aim to eliminate this stress. Essentially, if you’re a private seller, you’ll be required to upload a video (not just photos) of your car to confirm its condition and all issues that need to be repaired.

I have been doing LibeRebil for over five years. This has allowed me to build an incredible network of service providers who are talented in their craft. These include mechanics, tuning shops and car detailing services. Relationships like this and many others have inspired me to create this app, which will comprise selling, fixing and even modifying your vehicle by authorised LibeRebil service providers.

A big focus has been placed on the car enthusiast. Thanks to detailed categories, the app will be easy to navigate. It will also have a social platform, allowing users to share their experiences and find out when di erent car meets around SA are taking place.

The journey of my passion started with my father fixing cars. The motivation came from a silver 350Z revving past. I’m proud of what LibeRebil has achieved. It’s a story that continues and holds exciting prospects for the future. It’s a legacy I hold dear. A

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Niyaaz Isaacs

Niyaaz has established himself in the SA motoring community as one of the hardest-working individuals. Since its inception, his YouTube channel, LibeRebil, has grown tremendously. Now, he is taking his brand to new heights.