A strange question about VAT.

Please excuse my novice knowledge about the VAT system. I spend most of my life as a cheap labourer my income per month never exceeded R3000 ever! Now I know you think bla-bla Loser! bla-bla. But the point is if I am to urn more money but is only working as a freelance contractor How will the Vat system work. How much Vat must I pay? The truth is I don’t have a clue....
Thanks