Well, look what we found in Bo-Kaap
During the construction of the Bo-Kaap Market site upgrade, the City’s Economic Growth Directorate’s contractor uncovered a stone well on the property associated with the national heritage site, the Spolander House. The well is probably more than 150 years old. Read more below:
Spolander House, on the corner of Yusuf Drive and Pentz Street, is a national heritage site and the land associated with the house (on which the well was found) is protected as a provincial heritage site. The well was exposed during construction activities to the Bo-Kaap Market space.
‘Upon discovering the well, our officials instructed the contractor to immediately cease work. On confirmation that the well was indeed archaeological, officials from Heritage Western Cape were notified. Following careful inspection, the City’s heritage officials worked with the construction crew to secure the well and surrounding area and allow development to continue,’ said Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
History
The well is located on a portion of the farm, Schotsekloof, originally granted in 1707. The farm underwent several subdivisions and in the 1830s the remaining portion of the farm, on which the well was found, belonged to Mr Pentz. In the 1930s, the property was expropriated as part of the so-called Slums Clearance Act of 1934.
Upgrade ongoing
The upgrade to the Bo-Kaap Market space is scheduled for completion by May 2025. It includes the construction of new trading stalls, a timber-decked seating area, hard landscaping and associated traders’ support and services centre.
The upgrades to this space recognises that Bo-Kaap is a community of significant cultural heritage and plans to preserve the natural and historical features of the space.
Public participation under way
To preserve the well for future generations, the City is engaging with the Bo-Kaap community and other stakeholders through registered interested and affected parties to guide its protection and give input to the future redevelopment of this space.
For the moment, a stop works order is in place within a five-metre buffer zone surrounding the well. The contractor is completing the trading stalls, timber gathering space, walkways and related market furniture such as benches in the interim. Public participation started on Thursday, 27 March 2025 and will run for 30 days.
‘The City’s goal in undertaking this project is to create a dignified and accessible trading area to grow the commercial and tourism potential of the area. That we could honour the history of Bo-Kaap through the preservation of this structure shows the City’s respect and deep commitment to our communities,’ said Alderman Vos.
Public participation is limited to registered interested and affected parties. An email was sent to them and they are expected to submit their comments via the same channel.
