Statement: Absa Board Changes

Barclays PLC
23 October 2006


Shareholders are advised that Absa Group Limited ('Absa'), in which Barclays PLC
has a shareholding of over 56%, has today issued the following announcement:


ABSA GROUP LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1986/003934/06)
ISIN: ZAE000067237
JSE share code: ASA
Issuer code: AMAGB
(Absa Group or the Group)


  APPOINTMENT OF FREDERIK (FRITS) SEEGERS AS A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ABSA
  GROUP AND ABSA BANK AND THE RESIGNATION OF DAVID ROBERTS AS A NON-EXECUTIVE
                      DIRECTOR OF ABSA GROUP AND ABSA BANK


Further to the announcement dated 8 June 2006 relating to board changes at the
Barclays Group. Frits Seegers has been appointed as a non-executive director on
the boards of both Absa Group and Absa Bank as a representative of Barclays with
effect from 23 October 2006.


Mr Seegers, who has worked at Citigroup for 17 years, joined Barclays on 10 July
2006 as Chief Executive of Global Retail and Commercial Banking and brings a
wealth of banking knowledge and experience to Absa.


David Roberts has resigned as a non-executive director of both Absa Group and
Absa Bank with effect from 23 October 2006. Mr Roberts served on the above
boards from 27 July 2005, when Barclays acquired a controlling stake in the Absa
Group.


Enquiries
Danie Cronje
Chairman
([phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]


Issued by:
Jacques Badenhorst
Investor Relations
Absa Group Limited
4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Lead sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

Co-sponsor:
Absa Capital - Corporate Finance, a division of Absa Bank Limited

For further information, please contact:

Barclays PLC
Anne Ramsay                            Alistair Smith
Senior Manager, Investor Relations     Head of Corporate Public Relations
[phone]                   [phone]



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