By Bianca Williams
Popular upmarket nightclub Dockside has been placed under provisional liquidation.
The high-tech club which houses three different dance floors, a range of bars and restaurants was put under provisional liquidation "because there was immense financial pressure on the directors", according to Etienne Slechter, Dockside operational manager.
He declined to give details. He said he could not speculate on the future of the club or whether it would be sold as a going concern. Slechter said further details could be released later.
Sheryl Ozinsky, of Cape Town Tourism, said it was sad that the venue, which opened in late November 1999, was placed under provisional liquidation, as the Belgian investors had put a lot of money into the operation.
"The equipment they invested in is unequaled in Cape Town," she said.
Ozinsky said the club helped towards creating an image of upmarket night life in Cape Town and added that it filled a gap in the tourism market.
"We were hopeful that the development of Canal Walk would attract more customers to Dockside, but (we) remain hopeful that the issue can be resolved and that it won't detract interest from investors," Ozinsky said.
She added that the club would, hopefully, be sold as a going concern if it ever came to that decision.
"The venue has been used to launch various products and I think we need to look at the reasons why it did not succeed.
"We need to look at the different aspects in the management as well," reasoned Ozinsky.
The upmarket venue, next to Ratanga Junction in Century City, was developed by Belgian investors who bought the land from Monex Developers a few years ago. The nightclub boasts a sophisticated sound and laser system.
Dockside was recently in the news when 15-year-old Hayley Simmonds died of a drug overdose after she had "popped" Ecstasy tablets and sniffed heroin at the club during the popular Ministry of Sound rave.