Read the case study below and answer all questions that follow

Load shedding $,$high levels of unemployment, and crime will be among South Africa's biggest structural challenges this year, but if local businesses partner with the governmenr, they can use these crisis to their advantafe.

PwC South Africa's first economic Outlook Report for $2024$ states that, compared to a year ago $,$ global business leaders are more positive about economic growth in their countriesiver the $12$ months.

South African businesses are under strain from international macroeconoics volatility and domestic headwinds, including load shedding, and this is hitting their bottom lines. The report says local company profits and dividends declined $17\mathrm{.}8$ percent year$-$on$-$year and $33\mathrm{.}2$ percent year$-$on$-$year respectively in Q$32023.$

As this negative trend could continue this year, business leaders need to act.

"Global geapolitical tensions aredisrupting international supply chains and PwC$\text{'}$s Global Risk Survey $2023$ identified supply chain disruption as the main external factor seen contributing towards company risk. South African companies are also facing domestic challlenges to rail and port services, with logistics under duress from shipment delays.

$"$ Supply chain localisation$-$relying on close$-$top$-$home source of labour,goods and services, innovation, technology, and capital$-$could reduce dependency on foreign sources,with logistics under duress from shipment delays.

However,PcW says localisation is about more than just goods. it includes workforce,reseach and development, technology and capital considerations.

Basically, to save costs,remain prifitable, and create value for stakeholders,companies need to do more with less. As a possible solution, a business model based on circular economy principles can help companies use resources more efficiently through recycling,re$-$manufacturing, reuse,maitenance, and redisgn.

While technology can be used for good in the circular economy, the report state that technological change is amonst the factors$($alondside geopolitical and polotical power shifts, climate chage $,$ andcorruption$)$ that are is unable to deliver the quantuty and quality of services that it previously could.

As a result, the use of public service declined across the board between $2019$ and $2023.$

Local Companies can, however, make meaningful impacts on their communities by partnering with the government to help address socio$-$economic challenges; the suggsted public$-$private collaboration model is an equal partnership with shared funding and contol over the assets. Citing The Edelman trust Barometer $2023,$PwC says approximatelty $56$ percent of South African respondents believe that emplyers are not doing enough to support access to healthcare. Options for employers to support workers' access to health services include employee wellness initiative, support programmes, and relevant training."

Whether at a company level or for society, shirley Machaba, Chief executive of PwC South Africa says crises create environments that cna hepl risk$-$start profound and sustained change

Question $1$

$1\mathrm{.}1$ Explain the impartance of developing tristing relationships with suppliers in the context of the challenges mentioned in the case study. How can businesses use these relationships to improve supply chain resiliene?

$1\mathrm{.}2$ Recommednd two$(2)$ negotiation strategies that businesses could use to strengthen supplier partnerships and manage supply chain disruptions. Provide examples from the case study.

Question $2$

$2\mathrm{.}1$ Discuss how ethical practices in purchasing can support long$-$term supplu chain stability, espacially during economic uncertainity.

Question $3$

$3\mathrm{.}1$ Describe how adopting Enterprise Resource Planning $($ERP$)$ system can help businesses implement sustainable supply chain practices, as suggested in the case study.

$3\mathrm{.}2$ Explain the role of ERP systems in improving decision$-$making and operational efficiency within the supply chain, particularly in the context of localisation strategies.

Question $4$

Develop a comprehensive supply chain strategy that integrates supplier relationships, ethical purchasing,and CRM to enhance overall resilience in the face of the challenges mentioned in the case study.