The Freedom Front Plus has announced its support for Bill Harington as its mayoral candidate for the 2026 local elections in Nelson Mandela Bay, despite his conviction for murder dating back to 1991. Harington, who was a 21-year-old police officer at the time, was involved in the killing of ANC activist Mbongeni Jama in KwaZulu-Natal. He was convicted of murder and spent nearly 14 years in prison. The FF Plus says it has always known about Harington's past and has assessed his character over time.
Harington's conviction has sparked controversy, with some questioning why his long-known criminal record has suddenly become an issue in the run-up to the local government election. FF Plus MP and chairperson Wouter Wessels accused political opponents of trying to discredit the party by highlighting Harington's past. Wessels said the party took Harington's past into account before allowing him to become a candidate and concluded that he had been rehabilitated.
Harington has expressed remorse for his role in Jama's killing and has apologized to the victim's parents during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings in 1997. He said he did not fire the shot that killed Jama but accepted responsibility for his position as the section head. Harington's conviction was initially for eight years, but it was later increased to 18 years on appeal.
The FF Plus says it assessed Harington's character over time before nominating him as its mayoral candidate. Wessels said Harington initially worked for the party rather than standing as a candidate, allowing the party to evaluate his conduct. The party concluded that Harington had shown remorse and had been rehabilitated.
Harington said he accepts that his past will continue to be scrutinized as he seeks public office. He said his past is part of his story, but it is not the sum total of who he is today. Harington said he was influenced and indoctrinated within the police to regard the ANC as the "enemy" at the time of the killing.
The killing of Jama changed Harington's life irrevocably, and he said he spent 13 years and 10 months in prison, losing both his parents during that time. He appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997 and sought amnesty for his role in Jama's killing, but his application was refused.
Harington has risen through the ranks of the FF Plus and is currently a serving Nelson Mandela Bay councillor, the party's Eastern Cape provincial chairperson, and a member of its Federal Executive. The party has stood squarely behind him, with Wessels questioning why his past has suddenly become relevant again.
Key points
- The Freedom Front Plus has defended Bill Harington as its mayoral candidate despite his apartheid-era murder conviction.
- Harington's conviction has sparked controversy, with some questioning why his long-known criminal record has suddenly become an issue.
- The FF Plus says it has assessed Harington's character over time and concluded that he has been rehabilitated.
