Funnyman Tol A$$ Mo has come a long way from the tiny East Rand house he grew up in; he has Kardashian-style cred and a pampered pooch to prove it writes Shanthini Naidoo On stage, comedian Tol A$$ Mo is a live wire. Once he gets going, you cannot rein him in - his flailing arms and jiving hips are like unguided missiles. And he goes "BOOM!" once a minute.Larger than life (he actually cannot stop growing, a hormonal condition for which he has to take medication), Mo is so loud and so hyper that he must have a glass of warm milk and a herbal sedative to come down after a gig.So nobody would guess that in the daytime, Mongezi Ngcobondwane is into organic food, shuns gluten and fluoride (it affects the third eye and pineal gland) and is a fan of water birthing.He waves goodbye, saying: "Go with love and light." He grows his own herbs to cook with. And he carries a furry rodent masquerading as a dog, called Sandy, who wears a jersey and eats chicken strips, "no crumbs", at restaurants.The stage persona, "Totally Outrageous Laughter Avantgarde $treet $tyle Mongezi", talks about how he grew up in a tiny house in an Ekurhuleni township with too many cousins. "We had six aunts and one drunk uncle, all under one ceiling."story_article_left1It is a far cry from his current suburban existence."Yes, my granny thinks this lifestyle is a little mad. I mean her neighbour's dog doesn't even have a name, never mind chicken strips and clothes. But Sandy is a part of our family," he says, giant hand stroking her pampered fur. Another pet, a Jack Russell called Chucky, was a Twitter personality before he died of cancer.The 29-year-old father of two went from a call-centre job to an open mic in Melville, then on to mainstream television practically overnight, as a presenter on SABC's Walala Wasala. His career burgeoned with cameos on Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, which was twice nominated for an International Emmy Award.A few years in, he is a talkshow host on e.tv's Ekse: Zwakala and a reality television personality - his family are the Kardashians of the East Rand and he was a popular contestant on Celebrity MasterChef. Ngcobondwane is also a creative consultant on advertising campaigns and had a budding career in music.You have to wonder how his wife, fashion designer Mome Nale, manages his schedule."I am a wild creative, I don't know whether it is Monday or Thursday most days but Mome keeps it together," he says.She has to keep him on a short leash, which he says he is happy to wear because he is naturally hyperactive. He is also dressed in one of her creations, an orange jacket in floral and plaid."My wife is my best friend. We have been together long enough that the immature jealousy stuff is out of the way and now we are building our careers and family together. We keep it fresh by being honest. Even if we have a small crush on someone, we can talk about that," he says. "Oh, and I never judge her hair. That is asking for trouble."He talks a lot about what amuses and irks him. He's had many beefs with many people on social media. There are YouTube controversies in which he voices strong opinions, especially about musicians who are "shit". Online sparring and cyberstorms are mediums of protest.We had to move restaurants during the interview because he felt the staff were undermining him."My culture and tradition helps me understand when I am being disrespected. We forget to treat each other like human beings. Even fans, they come up and scream in my face for a photo. I stop them and say, 'Hi, I am Mongezi, what is your name?' and then we take photos. It is all about respecting each other."story_article_right2Likewise, he is good to those who treat him well. "I get that from my dad. He spent 13 years in prison, and when he got out he was learned and he had a lot to teach me and the community. They call him baba mfundisi now."The comedy comes from stories of his life, of poverty and extended families, favouritism of the light-skinned children, a cousin whose mental illness went unnoticed."That is my comedy, my life. Chris Rock's Def Comedy Jam show came from a place of anger and it was hilarious. It is the intense emotions that other people can identify with, and observation."As a parent to TK, 11, and Khumo, 1.5, he is totally new-age."I missed the Emmy awards because Khumo was going to be born. I was in that birthing pool and I wouldn't change that for anything. I want to be a present father. My kids must see the intimacy between their mother and me. My grandmother only told me she loved me when I was 24, on my wedding day."I don't want that for them. I think we can be more involved and loving to kids so they don't become attention-seekers or menaces to society. They must be emotional but confident. If you are confident in life you are never in doubt."Which is why he has no problem being the 1.95m tall man in the orange jacket, swaggering down the street with a small dog under his arm.Follow the author of this story, Shanthini Naidoo, on Twitter: @ShantzN..