Analysis: South Africa's Ramaphosa still ANC's best hope despite scandal

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks with delegates ahead of his keynote address at the opening session of the World Science Forum in Cape Town where he is to make his first public appearance since the publication of a report that found he may have committed misconduct over cash at his private game farm, in Cape Town, South Africa, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa is weathering the worst scandal of his presidency thanks to the backing of his party, which is keenly aware its best hope of retaining power at 2024 elections is to keep him as leader.

Battered as his reputation may be by the "Farmgate" affair, Ramaphosa remains the most popular figure in the African National Congress (ANC) and the best placed to reverse last year's municipal polls that saw the party's share of the vote drop below half for the first time.