Cop crushed by pole

A policeman who tried to do his civic duty by removing a broken electric pole, was killed after the concrete pole fell on him.

Cape Town - A policeman who tried to do his civic duty by removing a broken electric pole, was killed after the concrete pole fell on him.

Randolf “Ollie” Olivier, 49, a Warrant Officer based at Wynberg SAPS, was crushed on Wednesday just before 6pm close to his house in Lake View, Retreat.

He later passed away in hospital.

Shocked neighbours say the police officer tried to move the pole out of harm’s way for children who were playing at a nearby park.

The say the pole was damaged earlier the day when a car crashed into it.

Resident Delores Jacobs explained: “The guy in the red car was not speeding nor did he flee the scene as rumours say, he even stayed on the scene for over two hours.

“This man bought airtime and called SAPS countless times but no one came. Later his friend in a white car came to tow him away.”

Concerned residents then took turns watching the pole to make sure children did not go near it.

Jacobs said Olivier was her friend: “He came [to visit and] into my house to tell me his youngest boy had just received his Western Province colours again.

“I was so tired, I told him I needed to sleep, watching the pole exhausted me.

“It was literally seconds later when my granddaughter came running in shouting, ‘Ma, uncle Ollie is lying under the pole,’” said a tearful Jacobs.

Claudia Solomons said their friend was still alive after the pole fell on him.

“It was the kids who he adored so much that kept him alive for a bit... they asked him to lie still and not move because he tried to get up but was so weak,” said Solomons.

On Thursday, four City of Cape Town trucks came out to fix the broken pole.

City spokeswoman Priya Reddy said the City did not immediately attend to the problem because it did not constitute a hazard to the public, or obstruct traffic.

She urged people not to handle damaged electrical infrastructure, which should be reported to the City on 0860 103 089.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said Randolf was off duty at the time, and that an inquest docket has been opened.

Daily Voice