(Juba) – The sound of iron hitting stone rises from Jebel Kujur in Juba’s Rock City in the early hours of each morning. It is the rhythm of resilience. Hundreds of women, most without protective gear, spend their days breaking stones into gravel to earn a basic living.
Among them is 60 year old Hellen Akujo, a widow and mother of seven, who has worked in this harsh environment for nearly 20 years.
“If it wasn’t because of extreme poverty and lack of employment in this country, I would not be doing this hard labour at my age,” she said, her hands coated in red dust.
Stone breaking is not just a job for these women. It is their only means of survival. Each day, they climb the slopes of Jebel Kujur, collect stones weighing up to 50 kilograms, and carry them down by hand. Once at the bottom, they break the rocks into gravel to be sold to construction companies around Juba. The women are part of the backbone of the city’s growing infrastructure, yet they face daily risks and long term health damage.
“I spend most of what I earn on medicine for my back pain, for my lungs, for my eyes,” said Akujo. “We have no gloves, no masks. We just breathe in the dust and pray we survive another day.”
Children often accompany their mothers to the quarry. Some help collect stones, while others sit on the ground exposed to flying rock fragments. School is a luxury many of these families cannot afford, and the work carries the risk of serious injury or permanent damage.
Jenifer Keji, 40, has worked in the quarry for 12 years to support her seven children. “It takes me a whole month to gather enough gravel to fill one truck,” she said. A full truck sells for SSP 300,000, which is around $43 USD at the official exchange rate, or $21 USD on the parallel market. The amount, she explained, is barely enough to cover her family’s rent, school fees, and medical needs.
“We don’t ask for pity, just opportunity. Give us safety. Give us support. Help us turn our struggle into strength.”
The risks of quarry work are well known. According to local health officer Dr. Kenyi, long term exposure to dust without proper masks can lead to permanent lung damage. “Many of these women could lose their lungs before they reach old age,” he warned.
Dr. Kenyi called for immediate action to protect the workers. He recommended that authorities distribute protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, and dust masks. He also proposed mobile health clinics and subsidised medical services. Beyond that, he suggested vocational training and micro-loans to help women move into less dangerous jobs such as tailoring or market vending.
Angelina Pita has been breaking stones for 25 years. She expressed frustration at the lack of progress and market instability.
“If there was a steady market, maybe this pain would be worth it,” she said. On days when she cannot sell her gravel, she collects plastic bottles just to feed her children.
Angelina is a survivor of conflict, orphaned as a child and now a widow. She lives in a tent with her children, relying solely on quarry work. “We have nothing, no house, no help. Just this mountain and our hammers,” she said.
Her experience reflects a wider crisis affecting many women across South Sudan who are caught between poverty, lack of opportunity, and physically demanding work. Despite playing a critical role in the country’s informal economy, they remain largely invisible in policy discussions and government support.
