Ster-Kinekor Shutters Bedford Square Cinema as Nu Metro Steps In

Ster-Kinekor has officially closed its cinema in Bedford Square, Bedfordview, making way for Nu Metro to take over the space. Entertainment journalist Jason Smith shared images on social media showing a “Nu Metro Coming Soon” sign outside the now-shuttered venue

While Bedford Centre already houses a Nu Metro, the new cinema at Bedford Square will be a separate location. Smith confirmed that Bedford Centre, which manages Bedford Square, has scheduled the new Nu Metro’s opening for May 2025.

@mybroadband @sterkinekor have closed down in Bedford Square and @numetro are opening in its place pic.twitter.com/mR6G14HyFT

— Jay (@TheJaySmith) March 14, 2025

The closure follows Ster-Kinekor’s earlier announcement in April 2024 about layoffs and cinema shutdowns across South Africa. The company had initially planned to close up to nine theatres but later reduced this number.

Factors Behind Ster-Kinekor’s Decline

Ster-Kinekor blamed several challenges for its struggles, including:

• Load-shedding, which disrupted operations
• A weak economy, affecting consumer spending
• Hollywood strikes, delaying key movie releases into 2025

The company also cited a decline in attendance, particularly at lower-cost cinemas where ticket prices ranged from R65 to R75.

In February 2025, Ster-Kinekor issued a Section 189(3) notice, indicating that 236 out of 728 employees could be retrenched. However, by May 2025, the company confirmed it had retrenched only 52 staff members, primarily at its head office.

The number of planned cinema closures was also reduced. While initial plans targeted nine locations, only Boardwalk in Richards Bay and Greenstone Mall were ultimately shut down.

Ster-Kinekor CEO Mark Sardi noted that the company is in talks with landlords and partners at other affected sites to explore alternative business models. He emphasized that whenever a cinema is closed, efforts are made to relocate staff to other venues.

Although the company has managed to cut costs and restructure operations, the cinema industry remains under pressure. Ster-Kinekor continues to negotiate new strategies for its remaining sites, considering options that blend entertainment and education to sustain business in a changing market.

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Sourced:My Broadbrand