Public participation is limited to registered interested and affected parties, who were notified of the process via email, and are expected to submit their comments via the same channel.

According to the City, 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 Slums Clearance Act of 1934.

The City's mayoral committee member for economic growth, James Vos, said when the contractors discovered the historic well, they were instructed to immediately cease work and secured the area within a five-metre buffer zone surrounding the well, so that construction of the market could continue.

The upgrade to the Bo-Kaap Market space is scheduled for completion by May, and will include 12 stalls as well as an office and restrooms, a timber-decked seating area, hard landscaping and associated traders’ support and services centre.

Meanwhile, resident and cultural heritage activist Jacky Poking said the discovery of the well presented exciting possibilities. She said the well is believed, by some residents, to be older than 200 years, and confirms the oral history of water, water sources and springs in Bo-Kaap.

"The well must be restored and research must be conducted to find out if we can activate the well as a water source for use like the springs in Newlands."

She also said the well should be the focal point of the trading space, which the proposal does not show.

She said the well currently hides behind the bathroom and multi-purpose room. "The design must be reimagined and those structures moved to bring the well into the space.

"If this space is for the residents then the residents input and opinions must shape the design."

Mr Vos said their goal was to create a dignified and accessible trading space to grow the commercial and tourism potential of the area, while honouring the history of Bo-Kaap.

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Discovery of historic well in Bo-Kaap welcomed