Lewe van F.H. Odendaal, 1898-1966

Abstract

Frans Hendrik Odendaal is in 1898 op Kimberley gebore. Hy het sy jeugjare op Boshof deurgebring en matrikuleer in 1916. Deur privaatstudie kwalifiseer hy in 1927 as prokureur. Hy is in 1919 met Magdalena Petronella du Plessis getroud. Uit hierdie huwelik is vier dogters gebore. Na h kart wewenaarskap tree hy in 1948 met Magdalena Jacoba Truter in die huwelik. Uit hierdie huwelik is twee dogters gebore, terwyl hy die dogters uit Magdalena Truter se vorige huwelik wettiglik aangeneem het. In 1928 vestig Odendaal horn as prokureur op Nylstroom w~ar hy by sy vennoot, adv J G Strijdom se politieke bedrywighede inskakel. In 1938 word hy lid van die Nasionale Party van Transvaal se Inligtingsburo. Gedurende die Tweede Wereldoorlog was hy vir h kort tydperk Kommandant van die OssewaBrandwag in die Waterberg. In 1948 is hy tot L P R vir Waterberg verkies en in 1952 tot L U K. In 1958 is hy as Administrateur van Transvaal benoem. Hy het geskiedenis in Transvaal gemaak deurdat hy die eerste Administrateur was wat uit die geledere van die Provinsiale Raad in die gesogte pas benoem is. Odendaal het bekendheid verwerf as eerste voorsitter van TRUK en vir sy aandeel in die bevordering en opbou van die kunste in Transvaal. Insgelyks het hy kuns in Suid-Afrika op h ordelike grondslag geplaas. Hy kan as een van die grondleggers van georganiseerde streekrade vir die kunste in Suid-Afrika beskou word. As Administrateur het hy horn verder onderskei as onderwysvernuwer en bevorderaar van snelboumetodes in die provinsiale geboue-program in Transvaal. Voorts het hy baie bygedra tot die groat ontwikkeling op nywerheids- en verkeersgebied in sy provinsie. Tussen 1952 en 1966 was hy ononderbroke voorsitter van die Nasionale Parkeraad. Hy was deels daarvoor verantwoordelik dat di~ organisasie tot h winsgewende en ordelike besigheidsonderneming uitgebou is. In die proses het hy natuurbewaring in die hele Suid-Afrika bevorder. Hy was oak voorsitter van die veelbesproke Kommissie van ondersoek na aangeleenthede in Suidwes-Afrika en kan beskou word as die vader van vernuwing en ontwikkeling in moderne Namibie. Hy is in 1966 na h hartaanval oorlede.

Frans Hendrik Odendaal was born at Kimberley -in 1898. He grew up in Boshof where he matriculated in 1916. Through private studies he quaiified as an attorney in 1927. He married Magdalena Petronella du PlessLs in 1919. Four daughters were born from this marriage. In 1948, after a short period as a widower, he married Magdalena Jacoba Truter. Two daughters were born from this marriage, while he legally adopted Magdalena Truter's two daughters from a previous marriage. In 1928 Odendaal settled at Nylstroom and practised as an attorney. He became involved with the political activities of his partner, adv J G Strijdom, and in 1938 he became a member of the National Party's Bureau of Information. During the Second World War he acted for a short period as Commandant of the Ossewa Brandwag in the Waterberg district. In 1948 he was elected M P C for Waterberg and in 1952 became M E C. In 1958 he was nominated as Administrator of Transvaal. He made history by becoming the first Transvaal Administrator to be selected from the ranks of the Provincial Council. Odendaal distinquished himself as the first Chairman of P A C T and for promoting the performing arts in Transvaal. At the same time he placed the performing arts on a sound footing in South Africa. He can be regarded as one of the founders of regional councils for the performing arts in South Africa. As Administrator he excelled as educational innovator in his province, and he also promoted quick building methods in the provincial building programme. He also contributed towards the development of industries and transport in his province. For the entire period between 1952 and 1966 he was chairman cf the National Parks Board. Due partially to his edeavours, the Board was developed into a profitable business organisation. In the process he played an important role in developing and promoting nature conservation throughout South Africa. He was also chairman of the commission of enquiry into the affairs of South West Africa and can be considered the father of development and renewal in modern Namibia. He- died of a heart attack in 1966.