No check in or refund possible with booking.com.

I made a reservation with booking.com for check in 25/10/24 and check out 26/10/24, payment was made via card and upfront. When it was time to check in I called the property manager and he said he is no longer affiliated with booking.com nor provide such services anymore, he advised that I call customer care. Called customer care but with no luck nor help, just random emails that they'll resolve my matter in 48hours. Since than I tried writing to them and calling them to get my refund but to no avail. I'm genuinely disappointed in booking.com, feel cheated and ****med of my hard earned money and worse I had to get another accommodation by myself or face a cold night in the dangerous city of Johannesburg.