If your caught on overstay, the penalty is a years ban from Thailand plus held in IDC until your flight out. You need to work out the risk against getting the extension.
thanks for the post. Those that couldn't raise the landlord. Could they get the extension if they never paid the fine on the landlords behalf or were they refused the extension if the fine wasn't paid?
Best to do a site search regarding getting visas on SA passports in the region. It's getting ever more difficult. I'm not entirely sure about Penang but 100% KL won't issue them.