The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) paid out R4.7-billion in benefits in the first nine months of this financial year, it was announced on Tuesday.

There were 590 000 beneficiaries, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini told reporters at Parliament.

"UIF provided relief to 590 000 unemployed people between April 2011 to January [this year], and disbursed up to R4.7-billion," she said.

The fund continued to play a "very significant role" in alleviating the effects of unemployment.

Dlamini said by the end of the second quarter of the year, the Expanded Public Works Programme created 549 982 jobs against a target of 868 000.

"Chief among this is the contribution by the community works programme, which created more than 79 000 work opportunities in the same period, benefiting women and the youth, particularly from poor rural families.

"In addition, the human settlements programme created over 50 000 direct jobs, 4 653 indirect jobs and 21 446 induced job opportunities," she said.