Articles by Saloni Jha

Entertainment

After Anne Burrell, TV chef Mynie Steffens dies at 43 as helicopter crashes into power lines in tragic accident

In a devastating turn of events, South African celebrity chef and television host Mynie Steffens died on Monday, November 10, after a helicopter crash at a citrus farm near Patensie in the Eastern Cape. The 43-year-old, best known for co-hosting the lifestyle cooking show Speel met Vuur, was reportedly flying her helicopter while spraying orange fields with pesticides when tragedy struck.According to the Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division (AIID), the aircraft collided with power lines shortly before crashing to the ground around 8 a.m. local time. The division confirmed that the helicopter sustained “substantial damage due to impact force.” Images from the scene showed the wrecked helicopter lying amid the fields, its body torn apart from the collision.Steffens was not just a chef, she was a daring spirit. A trained helicopter pilot, cookbook author, and TV personality, she embodied adventure both in and out of the kitchen. Her VIA TV series Speel met Vuur, translated as Play With Fire, perfectly captured her personality: fearless, curious, and full of creative spark.Her close friend and co-host Aldi van der Walt, who created the show alongside Steffens after the two reconnected years after high school, described the loss as “a massive shock” and a “tragic blow” to everyone who knew her. Van der Walt said Steffens lived life “to the full,” constantly brimming with ideas that she transformed into success stories.Those who knew Mynie Steffens remember her as more than a TV face, she was the person who made time for everyone, no matter who they were. Van der Walt described her late friend as having “a big heart, gentle soul, and humour that made her irresistible.”South African network VIA TV also paid tribute, sharing a heartfelt post that read, “You were adventurous until the end. With Play With Fire, you showed us all how to live with curiosity and bravery. Sleep softly.”Steffens’ passing has left a deep void in South Africa’s entertainment and culinary world, a life lived with fire, ended far too soon.