Being sent from pillar to post for refund!!!!!!!!!!

I made a booking yesterday via Booking.com for 8th November for a 2 night stay at the hotel. I entered the credit card details and was charged the full amount this morning. It was strictly provided that there would be free cancellation before 25th October. I received a receipt of payment from Thabo Eco Hotel. It provides that prepayment has been made to the hotel and they have received and processed payment. I cancelled the booking today due to personal reasons and I received an email confirming my cancellation and that I would receive a refund shortly. I called the Accomodation and asked why I had not yet been refunded. They first **** and said that only Booking.com would be able to refund me. They said that they had not received any payment despite the fact that I received confirmation of payment from the hotel. I called Booking.com and they explained that payment was made to the hotel and they were meant to give the refund. I then called the hotel once again with this information and told them that they were responsible for the refund because I had also received proof from them that they had in fact received the payment. The tune changed and now they said that they need to speak to the manager and a refund can only be paid on the 15th of each month. I have been sent from pillar to post. This is so unacceptable for a 4* hotel. R4000+ is a lot of money just for people to blatantly give you the run around. Please be careful when booking this hotel. I have a good mind of sharing this story with my large following on social media. This is unacceptable and I need my refund now!