Mynie Steffens helicopter crash death
South African television chef and author Mynie Steffens has died at the age of 43 in a tragic helicopter crash near Patensie in the Eastern Cape.
The incident occurred on the morning of Monday, November 10, 2025, when Steffens was conducting a crop-spraying operation with a helicopter over a citrus farm outside Patensie. According to the Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the helicopter struck power lines during the flight and subsequently crashed. The aircraft was significantly damaged upon impact.
Steffens was known as a co-host of the Afrikaans-language cooking and lifestyle show Speel met Vuur (“Playing with Fire”) on the VIA TV channel. Her co-host, childhood friend Aldi van der Walt, described her as a person with a big heart and gentle soul who always made time for people from all walks of life.
The crash has prompted an investigation, and an inquest docket has been opened by authorities. The preliminary report is expected to be published in due course.
This loss is being felt across the culinary and broadcasting communities, and tributes continue to pour in.
