{"id":294325,"date":"2025-11-11T13:14:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T11:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/?p=294325"},"modified":"2025-11-11T13:15:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T11:15:02","slug":"kouga-mourns-tragic-loss-of-pilot-author-tv-presenter-mynie-steffens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/kouga-mourns-tragic-loss-of-pilot-author-tv-presenter-mynie-steffens\/","title":{"rendered":"Kouga mourns tragic loss of pilot, author, TV presenter Mynie Steffens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PATENSIE <\/strong>– 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steffens, a helicopter pilot and instructor, a published author of “Mynie Plays With Fire<\/em>” and a TV presenter on the DStv show “Speel met Vuur<\/em>“, matriculated at Nico Malan High School in Humansdorp in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mynie was an extremely well-liked senior, and she had a wide range of hobbies and interests,” said Hancke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Penguin Random House South Africa, the publishers of Steffens’ book “Mynie Plays With Fire<\/em>“, she started cooking over fire when she was 10 years old and she hasn’t stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The publishing house said that she used her experience gained on a travel and braai cooking TV show titled “Speel met Vuur<\/em>” and from catering private braai events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often featuring braai-tasting menus, she decided to develop these ideas further, resulting in her cookbook of braai-tasting menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As previously reported<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed that police have opened an inquest docket following the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hancke, Steffens leaves behind her partner Sarah Belcher, her sister Lanie Landsberg and brothers Rhodes Cowley and Berto Cowley, family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She was vibrant and so caring. She will be greatly missed,” said Bornman.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beloved pilot, TV presenter & author Mynie Steffens (43) tragically died in helicopter crash near Patensie, Eastern Cape on 10 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