But it was the sky that took her in the end.
🌿 On Monday morning, while spraying pesticides over orange groves near the town of Patensie, beloved South African chef and TV host Mynie Steffens, aged 43, tragically lost her life.

She was piloting the helicopter herself when it struck electrical cables and went down on the farm below.
According to the Accident and Incident Investigation Division, “The pilot was conducting pest control operations when the helicopter made contact with power lines and sustained substantial damage.”
📸 At the crash site, only the shattered fuselage remained — a silent reminder that even the brightest lives can end in a moment.
Mynie wasn’t just a chef. She was the author of the popular cookbook Speel met Vuur and the co-host of the hit TV show of the same name, which she created with her longtime friend Aldi Van der Walt. Together, they traveled across South Africa, reimagining traditional dishes and sharing their love for food — and life.
Her close friend said after the tragedy:
“She lived life to the fullest. Every day with her was a celebration. Even her last — in the sky — was exactly that.”
🕊 Her smile will live on in the hearts of millions.
