Money taken, No service!!!!

I am a booking at Sandton Gate Apartments via booking.com, made a payment of almost R16K online. when I went to check-in, the people at Sandton Gate said they do not have availability and asked me to cancel. I have cancelled and am left with no money to make another booking and these guys will only refund me on the 3rd of April. ridiculous, why take people's money if you cannot deliver???!!! then why keep the money for so long, what am I to do now???????