VANDERBIJLPARK – Kananelo Thamae (27) has become the Vaal’s certified doctor of comedy, serving daily doses of hilarity to thousands on TikTok.

Born in Soweto’s Zola Hospital, Thamae’s life has been a rollercoaster ride through provinces.

From Pretoria, which played a major role in shaping his childhood, to North West, Free State, and finally back to Gauteng, Vaal, his journey has been filled with stories that now inspire his viral skits.

“To be honest, I am one funny guy, and I’ve always been funny from a young age. However, while I remain funny, I am very shy but stout,” said Thamae.

Proving his sense of humour, Thamae laughed as he told a story that got him into trouble back in grade six.

“I remember I once got beaten so bad by my principal and teacher, because I drew my teacher on the board. So yep, I’ve always been that guy,” he said.

Now dubbed the “Vaal TikTok Sensation,” Thamae’s rise to digital stardom began in 2019 after owning a TikTok account for nearly a year and trying out random trends like everyone else.

What made him different from other content creators was when he mimicked a funny moment her grandmother did.

“That moment was what made me who I am. I had three mothers, so it was easy for me to play different characters. I remembered everything they did to us as kids and made it comedy,” he said.

Thamae credits a friend for encouraging him to move to TikTok from a competing app called “Likey” during a challenge to see who would blow up first.

Today, Thamae has turned into a household name across the Vaal’s digital streets, known for his hilarious impersonations as he tells township stories, leaving his followers in stitches [TikTok feature].

While the bubbly comedian remains popular, fame isn’t something he switches on and off.

“You can’t separate me from my content. People see me and immediately remember my videos. Wherever I go, I see content. It’s not just something I do, it’s who I am,” he concluded.