FF Plus Mayoral Candidate Bill Harington Explains Past Conviction for ANC Activist’s Murder
- FF Plus named Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Bill Harington as its mayoral candidate despite his murder conviction from 1991
- Harington served nearly 14 years in prison over the killing of ANC activist Mbongeni Jama and later appeared before the TRC
- The FF Plus defended its decision, saying the party had known about Harington's past before endorsing him as a candidate
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EASTERN CAPE — Nelson Mandela Bay Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) councillor Bill Harington has publicly addressed his murder conviction from 1991, after his background came under renewed public scrutiny following his nomination as the party's mayoral candidate ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Harington was 21 years old and serving as a police officer and section head of a team of young Inkatha special constables when ANC activist Mbongeni Jama was killed. One of the constables under his command shot Jama with a shotgun at close range. Despite not firing the weapon himself, Harington was convicted of murder based on his leadership role. He received an initial sentence of eight years, which was increased to 18 years on appeal, and ultimately served 13 years and 10 months behind bars.
Harington accepts responsibility for Jama's death
Speaking to Daily Maverick, Harington said his conviction was never concealed from the FF Plus.
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"My past is not a secret," he said.
He added that the political climate of the era led young officers to regard the ANC and United Democratic Front (UDF) as adversaries. He was, however, clear that this context was not offered as justification.
"I do not seek today to justify what happened or to deny my responsibility for it," Harington said.
He appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 1997 and applied for amnesty, which was refused. During those proceedings, he said he apologised directly to Jama's parents and family and accepted responsibility for the pain his actions caused. He entered prison at 21 and was released at 34.
FF Plus defends its endorsement of Harington
FF Plus MP and chairperson Wouter Wessels questioned why the conviction had only become a matter of significant public debate at this stage. Wessels confirmed the party was fully aware of Harington's background before formally endorsing him as a candidate, explaining that Harington had first been allowed to work within the organisation so the party could assess whether genuine remorse and rehabilitation were evident.
The party concluded that Harington had been rehabilitated. He currently serves as the FF Plus's Eastern Cape provincial chairperson, a member of its Federal Executive, and a sitting Nelson Mandela Bay councillor.
Harington acknowledged that his past would continue to feature in public discourse as he pursues the mayoral role.
"Nobody can change my past. But neither should anyone erase the more than three decades of my life since then," he said.
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