PATENSIE – The Kouga community and the broader entertainment industry are mourning the death of beloved pilot, TV presenter and author Mynie Steffens (43) who tragically died in a helicopter crash on a farm outside Patensie in the Eastern Cape on 10 November.
Steffens, a helicopter pilot and instructor, a published author of “Mynie Plays With Fire” and a TV presenter on the DStv show “Speel met Vuur“, matriculated at Nico Malan High School in Humansdorp in 2000.
According to Ellen Margaret Hancke, a close family friend, she was the deputy head girl and served as Primaria of Huis Meiring the school hostel for girls.
“Mynie was an extremely well-liked senior, and she had a wide range of hobbies and interests,” said Hancke.
According to Penguin Random House South Africa, the publishers of Steffens’ book “Mynie Plays With Fire“, she started cooking over fire when she was 10 years old and she hasn’t stopped.
The publishing house said that she used her experience gained on a travel and braai cooking TV show titled “Speel met Vuur” and from catering private braai events.
Often featuring braai-tasting menus, she decided to develop these ideas further, resulting in her cookbook of braai-tasting menus.
As previously reported, during a routine crop-dusting operation, Steffens’ helicopter struck power lines and crashed on the Roodegrond farm near Patensie on 10 November at about 07:45.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed that police have opened an inquest docket following the incident.
According to Hancke, Steffens leaves behind her partner Sarah Belcher, her sister Lanie Landsberg and brothers Rhodes Cowley and Berto Cowley, family and friends.
The Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, who attended high school with Steffens, said that he will always remember her joy and her love for life.
“She was vibrant and so caring. She will be greatly missed,” said Bornman.
