The new administration will face its first Constitutional Court challenge when a group of lobbyists challenges KwaZulu-Natal's "Slums Act" on Thursday.

A group called Abahlali base Mjondolo Movement, which works towards improving the living conditions of shack dwellers, had tried unsuccessfully to get certain provisions of the Act declared unconstitutional in a lower court, so decided to approach the Constitutional Court.

"The Act was imposed by the KwaZulu-Natal department of housing. This act was imposed against the will of the poor who the government is meant to serve. It is a clear attack on the poor," said Abahlali baseMjondolo spokesperson Mnikelo Ndabankulu.

The act was passed in 2007 by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature and it aims to eliminate slums, prevent new slums from developing and control and upgrade the existing slums.

Ndabankulu said slum dwellers were not happy with the act. They saw it as an attempt to give legal support to evictions and to criminalise their organisation.

He said they were also not happy with the government's temporary relocation areas, because they resulted in people being taken to areas far away from cities.

In 2008 KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Shabalala ruled in favour of the government on a challenge to the act.

The departments of housing and land affairs will be part of the court hearing in Johannesburg.