The mood was somber, with emotions sometimes running high.

Even the long speeches by politicians and friends did not bother the mourners who waited patiently for the proceedings to end. This was during the funeral service of the MEC for Publice Works in Limpopo, Sparks Ramagoma (57), at Vondwe cemetery over the weekend.

The Vondwe sports ground was packed to capacity and only a handful of the many dignitaries, family members and close friends could be accommodated in the nearby local cemetery and the horde of mourners only remained outside the cemetery fence and watched the proceedings from a distance.

During the funeral, the government, the ruling party and the tripartite alliance vowed to speed up service delivery to the communities as a way of keeping alive the memory of dead MEC Pandelani Ramagoma, known as Sparks.

Speaking at a funeral service village and paying homage to the dead leader, who was also chairperson of the South African Communist Party in Limpopo, Premier Cas-sel Mathale said Ramagoma was one of the politicians who risked their lives fighting for liberation, when the ultimate price was death.

After the first democratic elections in South Africa, Ramagoma continued to play a pivotal role both in the ANC, SACP and in government. “The best way to honour Sparks is to speed up service delivery, bringing water to communities, improving health care facilities, bringing decent jobs as well as decent housing for people,” said Mathale.

SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande said of the man: “A communist has content so was Sparks. In his honour, let the government improve the lot of our people. People should go to university and study and be like Ramagoma.”

Ramagoma never tired of improving his education as he had a diploma in public administration from the erstwhile University of the North (Unin), a bachelor of arts in international politics and development studies from Unisa, as well as master’s degree in development from Unin. At the time of his death, he was busy finalising his masters of business administration with Mancosa. “Sparks lived and died as a communist,” Nzimande added.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said his memory of the dead leader was of “a quiet comrade but very resolute.”

Buti Manamela, chairperson of the Young Communist League, said the Sekhukhune district of the party has now been named after Ramagoma.

Amongst the dignitaries were Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane as well as ministers Collins Chabane, Aaron Motsoaledi, Maite Nkoane-Mashabane and deputy minister Joe Phaahla.

Meanwhile, Khathu Mapholi, ANCYL president in the Vhembe region, set tongues wagging when he called for the renaming of Thohoyandou Stadium after the dead politician. “When the late Peter Mokaba died, the youth in the area requested that the stadium in Polokwane be named after him, and this was granted. When soccer star Lesly Manyathela died, the youth in the area requested that the stadium in Musina be named after him and this was also granted,” said Mapholi.

He added: “This is a request and if it is not granted it may become a demand,” said Mapholi, who said he was directing the request to the Thulamela Municipality, the Vhembe District Municipality as well as the relevant department.

Ramagoma is survived by his wife Mashudu Sophie Rambuda and five children.