Suspected KZN rhino poacher due in court

Dumisani Gwala is believed to have been part of a rhino horn syndicate operating in the north of the province and taking the horns across the border to Mozambique.

He was arrested in December 2014 during a sting operation where undercover police officers acted as rhino horn sellers.

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Police say the officers and Gwala concluded several transactions before a trap was set up and he was arrested.

Project Rhino KZN's Sheelagh Antrobus says it's an important trial.

"If we can get better information ahead of a poaching happening then we can give the rangers a chance to respond effectively and for all the resources that have been put into trying to stop poaching [can be allocated elsewhere].

"If this Gwala trial can be done speedily and we get an effective conviction, I think that will send a very strong message that these criminal syndicates are not going to be tolerated in KZN," she said.