MORE and more businesses in South Africa are going bust. Data supplied by Statistics South Africa in Pretoria Thursday reveal that in the three months to end February 1005 companies went out of business — 58% more than the corresponding period last year when there 636 liquidations. Statistics SA remarked that this was part of an upward trend. During the period, compulsory liquidations of companies were up by 72,7% while voluntary liquidations increased by 96,1%. Liquidations, both compulsory and voluntary, of close corporations were also sharply up. The total number of insolvencies in the three months to the end of January increased by 44,9% — from 732 to 1061 — compared to the same period a year ago.