Ster-Kinekor set to shut down cinemas at popular Cape Town mall

Ster-Kinekor, South Africa’s largest cinema operator, announced that it will shut down its long-standing movie theatre at Cavendish Square in Cape Town early next month.

The company confirmed in a statement that its final day of operation will be Monday, 2 June 2025.

The closure comes as a result of a non-renewal of the site’s lease, marking the latest in a series of shutdowns by the chain in recent months.

“While this chapter closes, we’re firmly focused on the future and are actively investing in our current cinema complexes,” Ster-Kinekor said, assuring customers of improved viewing experiences at its remaining sites.

Series of silent closures

The Cavendish Square closure is the third in 2025 alone.

In March, Ster-Kinekor closed its cinema at Bedford Square in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, and on 8 May, it shut down its Gateway branch in Umhlanga, one of its biggest and most prominent venues.

While initial speculation pointed to rental disputes, Ster-Kinekor maintained that its exit from Gateway was amicable, stating it had parted ways with the mall “on good terms and with mutual respect.”

Meanwhile, competitor Nu-Metro has stepped in to take over operations at both Bedford Square and Gateway.

Navigating an industry in flux

Despite the closures, Ster-Kinekor remains optimistic.

CEO Mark Sardi said the company is in advanced talks to open cinemas at four new sites, described as “commercially attractive,” while also planning major upgrades at existing locations.

Ster-Kinekor has introduced new Kids’ Cinemas and premium Cine Prestige lounges.

The company cited strong 2025 ticket sales as proof that South Africans remain interested in going to the movies.

However, local cinemas also deal with unique challenges, such as a weakened rand, which raises the cost of importing international films.

A long road to recovery

Ster-Kinekor entered business rescue in January 2021 but was rescued by Blantyre Capital and Greenpoint Specialised Lending in a R250 million deal in 2022.

In April 2024, the company warned it might cut nearly a third of its staff and close up to nine cinemas nationwide.

However, it ultimately retrenched just 52 employees and closed only two cinemas: Boardwalk in Richard’s Bay and Greenstone Mall in Johannesburg.

Following the Cavendish Square shutdown, Ster-Kinekor’s national footprint will shrink from 39 to 34 locations, raising new concerns about job losses.

The company has not confirmed how many staff have been affected by recent closures but insists it seeks to redeploy employees wherever possible.