Frans Hendrik Odendaal (1898–1966) (known as Fox Odendaal) was a South African politician, governor of the Transvaal province, best remembered for heading the commission that became known by his last name.

Frans Hendrik "Fox" Odendaal
Governor of Transvaal Province
of South Africa
In office
1 November 1958 – 8 February 1966
Preceded byWilliam Nicol
Succeeded bySybrand Gerhardus Johannes van Niekerk
Personal details
Born18 September 1898
Kimberley, Cape Colony
Died8 February 1966(1966-02-08) (aged 67)
South Africa
NationalitySouth African
ProfessionPolitician
Map of Namibia with Odendaal Commission recommendations

Odendaal Commission

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In 1962 Odendaal was appointed as head of the officially named "Commission of Enquiry into South-West Africa Affairs." Over time the commission came to be popularly called the "Odendaal Commission". The Commission finished its enquiry towards the end of 1963, but its findings were formally handed early in 1964.[1] The Odendaal Report, as it was called, contained a series of proposals (The Odendaal Plan) regarding the establishment of territories dedicated to the "separate development" of the different ethnic groups in South-West Africa (Namibia today). The Odendaal Plan thoroughly described the different steps needed to establish in South-West Africa bantustans similar to those already in South Africa. The report was first rejected by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations (also known as the Committee of Twenty-four because of the number of members), and then by the General Assembly. Despite all this, the South African government started formal implementation of Odendaal's plan in 1968.

References

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  1. ^ McGeorge Bundy (24 April 1964), U.S. Policy Toward South Africa, White House, National Security Action Memorandum No. 295, retrieved 27 April 2010