Tenant / landlord dispute

Good day

I am having a problem with my landlord.

I move into his rental cottage flat on 31st July 2024. I was not aware that the place is so noisy until the first night there, when I was awakened up around 02:03am by the noise of other tenants until I could catch a nap around 04:00am, bearing in mind I still must wake up and go to work.

Right then at 02:03 (1st August 2024), I sent my landlord a WhatsApp message saying that I do not think I can survive leaving there as it is too noisy for me around that time. Then in the morning we had a meeting to discuss the matter where I asked for my R7000-00 back that I initially paid before moving in signing no lease or any paperwork.

He mentioned he used the money already, so the solution is I must get someone to occupy the place, and they will be the ones paying me the amount of R7000-00 back, then I can move out. Or I should just stay in a noisy place with no peace for the month of August, then I can move out.

Well, then got someone who paid me R4000 instead of R7000-00 because they did not have enough capital for the deposit because I paid the deposit already, which I agreed to knowing that I would get my deposit back from the landlord end of August. Now when I mention that by the end of August, I want my deposit back; she refuses and says the new tenants should give me the deposit back who are also complaining with the same problem.

Everything we discussed is in WhatsApp messages.

What steps can I take to address this issue?