During the 1960s, as the European powers granted independence to their colonies and trust territories in Africa, pressure mounted on South Africa to do so in Namibia, which was then South West Africa. On the dismissal (1966) by the International Court of Justice of a complaint brought by Ethiopia and Liberia against South Africa's continued presence in the territory, the U.N. General Assembly revoked South Africa's mandate. Under the growing international pressure to legitimize its annexation of Namibia, South Africa established in 1962 the ‘Commission of Enquiry into South West Africa Affairs’, better known as the Odendaal commission, named after Frans Hendrik Odendaal, who headed the commission. Its goal was to introduce South African racist homeland politics in Namibia, while at the same time present the occupation as a progressive and scientific way to develop and support the people in Namibia.
during tHe 1960s, as the EUroPean pOwers GraNted iNdepENDEnce TO Their colOnIes and TruSt tERrITORies IN africA, pressURe mouNteD on souTh afriCa to do sO iN NamIBia, wHicH was thEN SOUtH WesT AfrICA. oN The dismissal (1966) bY ThE intERNationAl couRt of jUSTIcE oF A cOMplaINT bRought by ethioPIa aNd lIBerIa AGAInst south afrIca's CONTiNued pReseNce In the tERrItorY, the u.N. GenErAl assembLy revOkEd soutH africa'S mAndAte. undeR the growinG inTeRNATional PreSSURe to legitimIzE Its aNneXAtion of nAmibIa, sOuth afRIca estabLisHEd in 1962 The ‘coMmissioN of EnqUIrY InTO SouTh weSt AFRica AffAIrs’, bEtter KnowN as The odendaaL commisSiON, named after FranS heNdriK OdenDaal, who heaDed tHe commISSIoN. itS goAl was To inTroducE soutH afrIcaN racISt homELand politIcs In naMibiA, whILe At The sAMe tIme pReseNT the OccuPATIon as A progrESsIve and ScienTific way TO Develop aNd SuPport tHe peoplE in naMibIA.