Ignored by management

It pains me to use social media platforms to complain but it has, sadly, become clear that doing so is the only possible way of, hopefully, extracting any form of response from the management of Zavora Lodge. We have been trying in vain to get responses from them but they wont even respond to communication from attorneys. We booked accommodation for December 2020 at Zavora Lodge and paid the deposit, in excess of R6 500, in January 2020. When the Covid pandemic struck, we contacted Linda (the manager or representative) in May informing her that we should probably cancel the booking. Linda advised me that we should contact her monthly to revisit the question. I called her again in July and she informed me that we should give it another month and that, should we cancel the booking before the end of August, we would be refunded in full. In August I sent her a message informing her that we elected to cancel the booking and enquired as to the refunding of our deposit. She rep**** that she would contact the owners of the Lodge and that I should look at the cancellation policy. I noted that the policy provides for a penalty of 15% if the booking is cancelled 6 to 4 months prior to the booked date. I accept this, despite Linda’s undertaking, given the circumstances, that we would be refunded in full if we cancel before the end of August. We received no response from Linda. I have attempted on numerous occassions since to contact Linda but she does not answer her telephone, seemingly ignoring the call when my number appears. A letter was addressed to Linda in August 2020 from an attorney’s firm confirming the cancellation and requesting Zavora Lodge to refund the deposit paid. In September 2020 a follow up email was sent to Linda requesting a response and repayment of the deposit. In this letter Linda was informed that, should we not receive a response we would have to considered our legal remedies. This email was also simply ignored and to date we have received neither a response nor repayment of our deposit or part thereof. I have also attempted contacting the owner on the number provided for him on the internet. Similarly, that call went unanswered. I have been advised that, given our formal cancellation of the booking, Zavora Lodge has no legal right to appropriate and keep for itself our full deposit. The fact that management is doing so and is ignoring communication from us leaves a bad taste in our mouths and I feel duty bound to warn other unsuspecting visitors.