Cancelled Booking

I stayed at Edens Guest House for Comrades 2015 with my family. The experience was good, so much so that I wanted to return with my family in 2016. I made an enquiry with Mike de Beer in September 2015 regarding booking out the cottage and was told that it would not be a problem, I would send the dates and he would block off the cottage for my reservation. I sent through the dates and he confirmed again via email that it would be fine. I had told him that I would pay a deposit in December for my May booking. In December, I sent through an email requesting his bank details for the deposit. In the 1st of February, Mike sent me an email apologising for not returning my mail asking if I still wanted the accommodation. I responded that I still required the cottage. An hour later Mike responds that he made an error and the cottage was booked out by someone else and that he can't assist me anymore. I fail to understand how my booking gets cancelled due to his poor administration skills. He offered no sort of alternative and his nonchalant apology was a disingenuous. His lack of principle on the matter is appauling. He should be embarrassed at his handling of the matter.