THE number of companies and close corporations liquidated last year rose to 3351, a 12,4% rise from 1997, Statistics South Africa announced on Tuesday. Stats SA said that the increase was mainly due to a 38,5% increase in the total number of voluntary liquidations. Voluntary liquidations by companies jumped by 46,5% and those of close corporations increased by 30,1% during this period. The most liquidations came from the wholesale and retail trade sector, catering and accommodation services sector and the financing, insurance, real estate and business services sectors.