Mbeki said the Chief Rabbi would be remembered for his commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, justice and equality.
Chief Rabbi Harris suffered from oesophagus cancer.
"He unflinchingly lived up to the imperatives of his faith; that all are equal in the eyes of the Lord. And doing so symbolised an exceptional sense of righteousness and justice," said Mbeki.
He said Chief Rabbi Harris never hesitated, as the leader of the Jewish community, to share platforms with of prayer with leaders of other faiths in the country, an exercise that enforced religious tolerance among inter-faith groups.
"Even when his duties as the Chief Rabbi of South Africa imposed exacting demands on his time, he still managed to set aside enough time to attend to the needs of those disadvantaged by South Africa's history of greed and racial segregation," he said.
Harris, who hailed from London, had just retired after serving 17 years as the country's Chief Rabbi, a post he held since his arrival in 1987.
President Mbeki said his legacy would inspire all South Africans to continue upholding the principles of democracy, equality and inter-faith co-operation.
"On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences to Ann Harris and family, the South African Jewish community and the world at large," he said.
"Indeed with his passing, we are all the poorer for it, but take comfort in the knowledge that we have inherited from him the rich legacy of the virtue of selflessness in service," added Mbeki.
The Chief Rabbi is survived by his wife Ann, sons Rabbi Michael and Jonathan Harris, five grandchildren, his brother, Victor, and two sisters, Leila and Marilyn. - BuaNews
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