Hundreds of tribute messages flooded social media following the shock decision to close the Ster-Kinekor cinema at Gateway Theatre of Shopping Mall. Durban North residents shared how the cinema was like a second home and many memories were formed.
Taliya Naidoo, a resident and major movie fan, said that she never thought she would see the day when Ster-Kinekor at Gateway would close its doors. “For two decades, it was more than just a cinema—it was a sanctuary of storytelling, a place where friendships were forged over popcorn and shared gasps at plot twists. School holidays were synonymous with blockbuster marathons. We lined up eagerly for the latest Harry Potter, The Dark Knight, Avatar, and more recently, Dune and Oppenheimer—all best experienced in the grandeur of IMAX.”
Naidoo commented on current prices as well as the shift to streaming online as possible factors for the cinema’s closure. “A decade ago, a standard movie ticket cost around R45–R66, and snacks (popcorn, soda, and a chocolate bar) set us back about R80. Today, those prices have nearly doubled, with tickets averaging R120 and snacks easily exceeding R150. A simple night out at the movies for two has become a luxury.”
Another resident, Danielle Oldfield Venter, said she would miss the sounds and the ability to escape. She pointed out that pricing led to her not visiting as often as before, as pricing would exceed R1000 for a family of four, and sometimes the cinema room would only have around 10 people. “I believe they could have kept some of the cinema rooms and not closed all of them, and possibly show some movies on rotation.”
UMhlanga Tourism Chairperson, Jeannie Sarno, said this will cause unemployment for the staff members that worked at these centres and she hopes that they could have been offered alternative replacements. “The closure of the cinema came as a shock to many residents. As a cinema lover, I don’t see how streaming can replace the overall experience of watching a movie on the big screen or at the IMAX.”
Gateway marketing manager, Ayesha Sewbaran, confirmed that the cinema had been closed and a new cinema operator will be taking over the space. She said further details will be shared on their social media platforms in due course. The cinema’s last trading day was on Thursday, 8 May.
