Mokopane Properties Refuse to Refund Deposit-Criminal Agency

Mokopane Properties are refusing return my deposit of R7200 I payed to rent an apartment through them. I started renting from my Apartment (Leblon 7, Mokopane) through Mokopane Properties January 2022 for R7200pm and payed a deposit & admin fee to Mokopane properties of R9667.00.

09/05/20222 I advised Mokopane properties that I am giving notice at Leblon 7 as I am going to move to the smaller unit (Leblon 10) across from current apartment which is also cheaper. I asked Mokopane Properties if I would be able to move beginning of June to the new apartment or would I be accountable to still pay rent at Leblon 7 as I did not give 2 months notice. Mokopane Properties then advised me that they communicated with the owner of the new apartment ( Leblon 10- Thepo) and that Mokopane Properties would also like to add the new apartment to their books, "{would I be interested in also renting Leblon 10 through Mokopane Properties? "} which would cost me R6100 where the owner only asked me R5500. I accepted the offer as this would ease the process and they would then also carry over the deposit and send me the new lease/contract for the new apartment.

I started moving into the new apartment (Leblon 10) the 1st of June after only receiving the key from them 18:00pm.

So I moved from Leblon 7-R7200pm to Leblon 10-R6100pm no problems or questions asked, deposit was sorted as I stayed with Mokopane Properties and they still had the full deposit I payed for Leblon 7 -R7200 excluding admin fees.

The 1st of October I verbally communicated with Ratchel(Mokopane properties) that I would like to give notice at Leblon 10 as I am moving into a house with my girlfriend at that time. I again asked them if I would be required to give 2months notice before I would be able to move, I already payed R6100 rent for October, will I be required to pay rent for November also? They advised that it would not be necessary and that I would be able to move. I also officially communicated 4/10/2022 via mail that I will be moving out from Leblon 10 end of October.

I started moving out of Leblon 10 apartment while already living with my girlfriend during the month of October and was completely moved out of the apartment and keys returned to Mokopane properties before end of October 2022.

I waited until 5th of December 2022 before asking when they are planning to refund my R7200 deposit? Received a message back from Rachel an employee of Mokopane properties, the owner of Mokopane Properties ( Ester Van Der Merwe) said "I don't have a Deposit. she is sitting with my file in front of her"

I then sent Ester van der Merwe (Owner of Mokopane Properties) a message asking what does she mean by "I don't have a deposit on file? I was required to pay my deposit before they let me rent the apartment (Leblon 7) through Mokopane Properties." With no reply, I then also sent her the proof of payment from the bank showing the amount of R9667.00 I payed as deposit & admin fees.

Ester van der Merwe(Mokopane Properties owner) sent me a voice note- " I must make an appointment with her and go to her office to sort out my file"

She accepted the appointment I scheduled for 15:00 at her office. Ester van der Merwe (owner Mokopane Properties only arrived for the appointment at 15:20 where I was eventually called to her office.

Ester van der Merwe then said that they are not going to return my deposit of R7200 as I breached/broke contract and did not give 2 months notice. I told he that I have written communication where Mokopane Properties confirmed that I am not required to give the 2 months notice I was willing to do. She still said that I breached my contract irrelevant of what was communicated to me previously.?

I asked Ester Van Der Merwe to show me the contract she claim I breached? When Rachel(Employee-Mokopane Properties) advised Ester that they didn't send me any contract and I didn't sign any contract/agreement. She only replied with it doesn't change anything. They refuse to refund although they have no reason at all to do so.

No entry or exit inspections was done when I move in or out of any of the 2 apartments I rented from Mokopane Properties.