Did not receive entire deposit

Good day

I need some advice please, I rented a 1 bedroom flat in Kraaifontein, and then my daughter from Pretoria moved to me and we got a bigger flat from the same agent in the same block of flats, and moved there on the 1 Aug 2016. We stayed there for 1 year, my lease expires on the 1 Aug 2017 and the flat was getting to crowded, the flats was taken over by another company, (TQM Properties), so I told my friend (which was also my agent) on the 19th of Aug 2017 that we are looking for a bigger place, we can not stay there any longer. She said to me its all good but I must not give notice until I found another place, and I must see if I can get someone for my flat.

I then got them somebody whom lives in the same block of flats but in a one bedroom, he was very eager to get the two bedroom since it is himself his wife and their two little children... but they declined his request because of his visa that expires in Des 2017 but they extended his lease in the one bedroom for another year, until May 2018.

Since my lease expired on the first of Aug 2017 they then send me the new lease to sign, which I did not sign because I knew by then I wanted to move out. Since I didn't sign the contract my friend (the agent) showed up at the flat for me to sign my contract, where I then noticed that my Id number was incorrect, I informed her about it and she said that she will send me the new one, I reminded her that I am looking for a bigger place, then she said to me again that I must not give notice until I have found another place. We painted the flat on my own expenses, because the paint that the previous agent gave to me was to little we had to paint the first flat that we stayed in and then we need to give some paint to another lady who moved out as well.

We moved in to the new place, where the new agent is willing to wait for my deposit and its been more that 7 days, and I've been informed that they keep me liable for the rent of Oct for the old flat, I can not afford to loose my deposit or any part of it.

What can I do and do I have any rights in this, can you please help me get the rest of my money or can you give me some advice in what do to.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter

Regards

Monica de Jager