The South Africa Army has experienced both victories and losses in battles, and war can be very dangerous. It consists of an air force, land forces, navy, and paratroopers. On March 9, 2011, the South African army headquarters held a medal parade where General S.Z. Shoke spoke about some of the dangers and facts regarding the South African army, including its involvement in the Second World War. The South African army has a long history dating back to 1488 when explorer Bartolomeu Dias first made contact with the Khoikhoi people.