Fifteen of the 18 names on a "hit list" disclosed publicly by Bheki Cele belonged to the ANC’s armed wing, and some have already been targeted.
Questions have been raised about the demise of the top cop who voiced despair over the police’s "lack of integrity".
Sapa and Tshwane City’s Selby Bokaba have been at loggerheads over a tweet by Bokaba the news agency published relating to a police hit list.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has called an emergency meeting after Bheki Cele spoke of an alleged police "hit list" containing 18 officers’ names.
Following the funeral of officer Layton Tshabalala, police have denied knowing about a list of police officials who were apparently mistreated.
The SAPS says it will look into the death of the police inspectorate’s divisional commissioner, who was found dead in his office earlier in the week.