South Africa’s minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, has been linked to the illegal poaching of rhinos in the nation, alongside top-ranking officials of the Chinese presidential delegation in an investigate expose by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit.

A Chinese rhino horn trafficker, Guan Jiang Guang, who also owns a massage parlour in Mbombela, said he has close ties with the minister and even provided pictures of the two at the facility, with some showing Mahlobo with one of the ‘manicure girls’.

“He came to my massage parlour every week or at least twice a month. I know him very well,” Guang told Al Jazeera.

Mahlobo however, denied the claims of his relationship with the Chinese national, who also said that he employs illegal immigrants at his parlour through violations of the nation’s immigration laws.

“The minister has indicated that he does not have any relationship with the gentlemen and he has never been to his house or received any of his services at his house as claimed, Brian Dube, the minister’s spokesperson told Al Jazeera.

Guan said that during a visit by Chinese president, Xi Jinping in December last year, several members of the delegation insisted to be taken around to shop for illegal souvenirs.

Several cooks and guides who catered for the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, also said that the delegate’s demand for ivory chopsticks, ornaments, bracelets, pen holders and personalized seals was so huge that supplies sold out in two days, City Press reported.

The Chinese has influential sources at the Beijing Capital International Airport, who ensure that his supplies enter Asia’s biggest economy, where rhino horns and ivory are in high demand.

Rhino poaching has escalated across the continent, fueled by the high demand in the Asian markets of China and Vietnam.

In 2015, poachers in South Africa killed 1,175 rhinos and the number is set to exceed last year’s mark. Kruger National Park, which has the biggest population of the endangered species in Africa loses at least two rhinos to poachers every night.

There are about 25, 000 remaining rhinos in Africa, with South Africa hosting the biggest population.

Mahlobo’s links to the illegal trade follows past claims that top government officials are involved in the illegal poaching.

In Zimbabwe, top police chiefs were implicated in the poisoning of elephants in the nation’s parks while in the three East African nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, government officials and legislators have been accused of involvement in the trade, The Star reported.