JOHANNESBURG - This week South African comedian Trevor Noah launched a R4-million crowdfunding initiative.

Through the Trevor Noah Foundation, he's challenging the public to raise funds that will go towards further studies for underprivileged matriculants.

R78,000 was raised during the first 48 hours of the launch from donors across the world.

Noah says he'll put in as much as R2-million of his own money.

There are also some goodies for donors -- from tickets to the Global Citizen Festival taking place on Sunday to a signed copy of Trevor’s memoir, Born a Crime.