The Old Selbornian Association on Friday distanced itself from a controversial image used in an invitation to Selborne College matriculants for a reunion recently held at the Old Boys Club.
The image, reportedly used in an invitation and poster, references the iconic June 16, 1976 picture showing a dying Hector Pieterson being carried by fellow pupil Mbuyisa Makhubu while Pieterson's sister Antoinette Sithole runs next to them.
In the picture making the rounds online however, Makhubu and Sithole's faces are replaced with faces of dogs, while Pieterson's face appears to have been removed.
This invitation was purportedly sent out by the Old Selbornian Association to matric pupils at the prestigious Selborne College in East London. Picture: Supplied
The controversial image has since sparked outrage among users on Twitter and Facebook, who labelled it distasteful and insensitive.
Other users called on Selborne College, which is a pretigious boys school in East London which counts many top SA sportsmen among its alumni, to take action against the people behind the poster.
"This is so tasteless wow disgusting in fact," an angry user posted on Facebook in reaction to the poster.
"Wow, that is sick. I hope it has been recalled, whatever it is."
So the @SelborneCollege distasteful picture was an invite to the old boys ceremony! #Selbornecollege pic.twitter.com/jJfy0f1cgg
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) December 1, 2017
Can you please explain this insult to our black people @CollegeSelborne #selborneCollege pic.twitter.com/YLJM14qfwK
— comrade sticks (@magwanyaSA) December 1, 2017
If the school did approve this "invitation" it clearly shows what white children are taught at home and at schools. 24yrs into democracy 😒😒😒
— 2000teen (@Nnete_nkatlhole) December 1, 2017
Commenting on the matter Alan Parsons, the executive director of the Old Selbornian Association, denied the invitation had been a formal one issued by the association.
He added that the poster had been sent out as part of a social event planned for matric pupils following the end of their end of their exams and was not authorised or sent by him.
Parsons also requested time to provide a detailed response to the reported invitation, but had yet to do so at the time of publishing.