At a glance, one would assume it was a sexy advertising campaign for a designer fragrance.

Not so, it is a DA Youth poster "encouraging people to think" about building a nonracial society.

"In OUR future, you wouldn't look twice," the poster reads.

There was a barrage of comments, ranging from compliments to racist rants, after the picture was posted on the DA Youth's Facebook page on Monday afternoon.

Connie van der Walt remarked: "SIES!!! Vir hierdie die profiel foto, as hierdie my seun was het ek hom soos 'n sleg hond vrek geskiet . as jy wit en swart meng, dan kry jy 'n half naaitjie DA."

But Duchess-Penny Lane said: "I think it's beautiful, the most beautiful thing is the human body in the nude. To me the picture symbolises the vulnerability in a relationship, trusting each other fully, with no defences. The fact that they are inter-racial makes it even more beautiful. It's not sexual, it's symbolic, it's poetic."

The poster was the brainchild of DA Youth's national management committee.

Makashule Gana, leader of the DA Youth, said he was pleased with the level of debate the picture had sparked.

"If South Africa was already at the level that we want to take it to, this wouldn't be causing a lot of uproar.

"I'm very happy with the debate. It means South Africans are thinking and want to engage on issues that confront them," said Gana.

Some Facebook commentators said the pictures showed too much flesh.

"What do interracial relationships have to do with democracy? The challenge is for each culture to work together . unity in diversity . not mixing up so everybody lose their identity! Lol nice DA, why don't you just support Top TV's bid for a porn channel! Naked people on a political party profile! Hhahhaha," said Johan Ehlers.

Tanya Natasha Pieterse said she would not want her son to see "naked pictures".

But Gana said he did not think the pictures were inappropriate.

"I don't think there is any nudity there unless anyone can see any private parts of any person there."

DA leader Helen Zille's spokesman, Pierre-Charl du Preez, said she had not commented on the picture and was "not going to".