What Happened
On Monday, November 10, 2025, around 8 a.m., Steffens— a licensed pilot—was crop-dusting her own citrus farm near Patensie in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. While spraying pesticides in a helicopter, she struck overhead power lines, causing the aircraft to crash in a grassy area. She was the sole occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene due to the impact. The Civil Aviation Authority’s Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division described the helicopter as “substantially damaged” and expressed condolences to those affected. An official probe is underway to determine the exact cause, but early indications point to the collision with the lines.
Photos from the site, shared by local emergency responders like Exec Ops, show the wreckage scattered amid the farm’s terrain—a stark reminder of how quickly adventure can turn tragic.
Who Was Mynie Steffens?
At 43, Steffens was a multifaceted talent: a vibrant TV chef, cookbook author, farmer, and adventurer. She co-hosted Speel met Vuur (“Play with Fire”) on VIA (a DStv channel), a high-energy cooking competition celebrating South Africa’s braai (barbecue) culture, where she mentored contestants with her infectious enthusiasm. Her 2021 cookbook, Mynie Plays with Fire (published by Penguin Random House South Africa), brimmed with bold, flame-grilled recipes that captured her love for food and fire.
Beyond the screen, she owned a citrus farm and often shared thrilling social media videos of her helicopter flights, blending her passions for aviation and agriculture. As her co-host Aldi van der Walt (a high school friend) shared, “Mynie lived life to the fullest… She had a big heart, gentle soul, the glue that kept people together.” VIA posted a poignant Facebook tribute: “Rest in peace, Mynie Steffens. You were adventurous until the end. With #PlayWithFire, you showed us all how to approach life with curiosity and bravery. Sleep softly.”
Tributes and Reactions
The outpouring has been swift and heartfelt, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where fans and peers mourn her vibrant spirit:
- TMZ’s post garnered thousands of views, with users calling her a “trailblazer who flew high in every sense.”
- A fan wrote: “Mynie wasn’t just a chef; she was a force of nature. RIP to the woman who made braai an art form.”
- South African media like IOL and African Insider highlighted her as a “pilot, author, and DStv star” who “transformed ideas into success.”
Global outlets from the New York Post to the Daily Mail have echoed the sentiment: She “lived life to the full,” leaving a legacy of joy, innovation, and connection.
This story checks out across diverse sources—no discrepancies noted. If you’d like me to dive deeper (e.g., more X reactions, her recipes, or updates on the investigation), just say the word. Sending strength to her family, friends, and fans during this unimaginable time. 💔