Refusal to pay deposit. Terrible service.

My experience has been nothing but terrible. I would advice people not to go through what I’ve been.

I’m a student. Currently got a job. I moved into an apartment under Mafadi last year.

I had told them that I only got paid on the 16th and I would appreciate them to move my rent payment but they said they couldn’t and went further to lock my door and deny me access to my apartment each and every month. It got to a point where Lesego told me that if I gave him a bottle of alcohol each month, he could make sure that he delay when the locks were changed up until the 16th. Late November, I received an eviction notice as to which I followed and moved out on November 30th. I asked them as to when I could get my deposit and they said in 21 working days. I remained patient as I was only going back to work and school this month, January. I haven’t received my deposit. I’ve been calling, sending emails however no one has gotten back to me or if they do, they give me the run around.

I’ve been sleeping on people’s couches as I don’t have money to even get myself a new apartment as the deposit they have is all I have to put down on my new apartment rent and deposit for the apartment. I have called them countlessly however he isn’t taking my calls now.

The R12000 deposit seems to be refunded on my current January invoice which they sent me but I haven’t received it. I don’t understand what’s going on. I do not know where to go or who to get real help from as I cannot afford my academics or job to suffer due to bad service or no response. I feel as though Mafadi does this because they feel as though no one can do anything to them. I hate trouble but this is the last straw for me. Someone please assist me further as surely the next step here is to either reach out to Checkpoint or get legal advise which I cannot afford. I’m a student, R12000 is really a lot of money.