A dying rhino poacher has told the Anti-Poaching Unit he was promised R10 000 to kill and de-horn one of the animals.

He was shot during a gunfight with the unit's members in the Pilanesberg Reserve in the North West province on Saturday.

He fled on foot along with two accomplices after the shooting but was found in the veld by officials on Sunday. He died later in hospital, but not before he questioned by the authorities.

The Anti-Poaching unit's Musa Zondi said officers were able to interview the man before he bled to death.

"He told the police that he was Mozambican and that he was promised R10 00 to shoot rhinos," said Zondi.

Officials recovered an illegal firearm and an axe. Police are still searching for the man?s two accomplices.

Meanwhile, five other suspected poachers appeared in the Lephalale Magistrate?s Court on Monday after they were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm by Limpopo police officers near a game farm at the weekend.

They will face charges of illegal hunting and the illegal possession of a firearm when they make their next appearance next week.