Deposit Owned but refused to pay

My friend rented out a garden cottage at 83 Fourth Ave for a year. When she moved out the owner said it was fine to move out and a verbal agreement and a text message was exchanged. It has now been three months since she moved out and the deposit hasn't paid back by the owner of the house after numerous visit and phone calls. She attempted to liaise with clockwise property on this as the property was advertised and the lease signed by them but they advise the owner that he has no right to pay her back. She has now lost her deposit of R6000 due to bad management and horrific attitude by clockwise agents regarding this matter. The sad thing is that the owner cancelled his service with them when she moved in but when she needed their help to get her deposit back they sided with the owner. <br> <br> Addition to this he has a new tenant moving into his place and the same thing will occur.