Real Estate Agency did not refund my deposit

I moved to Klerkdorp in 2017 and rented a 2 bedroom apartment from Merlin Properties. The agent was friendly enough, took care of the maintenance in a timely manner, although sometimes I had to ask twice or three times. No inklings or suspicions whatsoever about what was to come. A red flag might have been when she mentioned when I moved in that the previous tenant left the place in such a state, that she had to re-tile, re-paint the flat. My company restructured in October 2020 and it took a long time for the whole process to be concluded. The restructuring wrapped up in January 2021 and I promptly let the agent know around the 15th January 2021 that I would unfortunately have to move out at the end of the month since I was not sure of what my finances would look like. A couple came to view the flat while I was still there and they wanted to move in the end of January. I promptly moved out, and that day the agent gave no indication at all that she was not happy with the way the flat looked, or even on the day of the viewing. I gave her my banking details to deposit the money that I put down as a deposit when I moved in, and she said she would deposit the money within seven days. I waited a few weeks and then messaged her to ask her when she would be depositing my money, but she didn't reply, I called her phone and she didn't pick up. I called her boss at the agency and told her the story and then the agent called me back after two months to tell me that she could not refund me because the flat was in such a state that the had to repaint the whole place. I logged a complaint with EAAB (Estate Agency Affairs Board) but they say the cannot get involved in a contractual dispute and I should take the matter up with my lawyer. I finally decided to put it up on hellopeter because I cannot in all conscience just leave it at that. I want to warn potential clients about Merlin Properties in Klerksdorp, and that they are not trustworthy, don't act in good faith and will make excuses to not refund your hard earned money. Make sure that when you move out you document the state of the place with videos and photos. I am not responsible for the hardships that the real estate industry is going through and am certainly not responsible for the pandemic. I certainly did not leave the place in such a state that I have to be penalised for the repainting. We are all going through tough times and should at all times try to rise above our circumstances. I will not even mention the question of race, but it makes me wonder. This review is just to let fellow citizens know what kind of people they will be dealing with.