KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvelo Wildlife employee Bheki Msweli and his co-accused Malusi Dubazane appeared briefly for allegedly contravening the Biodioversity Act.

Their case was postponed to September 7 for further investigation.

If they applied for bail before that date, they would be requisitioned to appear in court.

The two were arrested in July after a year-long investigation by Ezemvelo and the Durban Organised Crime Unit.

Msweli was apprehended in his hometown of Mtubatuba, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, while Dubazane was caught in Melmoth.

Msweli was not found in possession of rhino horn but, because of his suspicious behaviour, police believed he was linked to the crime.

Msweli was transferred to the anti-poaching unit last year as part of a strategy to monitor his movements and activities.

In 2010, Dubazane was arrested on another rhino poaching charge with three other men. He was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence.