19-Year-Old Student Chef Alexis Jayde van Wyk Dies in Sweetwaters Road Collision

Thabo Molefe Published 19 hours ago

3 min read

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A 19-year-old culinary student, Alexis Jayde van Wyk, has reportedly died following a serious collision on Sweetwaters Road in the Pietermaritzburg area of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday night, 24 October 2026.

Alexis was a student at the Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine in Hilton, where she was pursuing her culinary studies as part of the institution’s Class of 2026. News of her reported death has brought attention to the young woman’s ambitions of building a career in the culinary industry.

The collision occurred at approximately 10pm, when two vehicles were involved in a serious crash on Sweetwaters Road, also known as Dennis Shepstone Drive.

KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to the incident, with emergency personnel arriving to assess the occupants of both vehicles.

According to the initial incident report, two occupants were trapped inside a bakkie following the collision. One sustained life-threatening injuries and was stabilised at the scene, while the other suffered fatal injuries.

Emergency personnel worked alongside the fire department and used specialised rescue equipment to extricate the trapped occupants from the damaged vehicle.

The occupants of the second vehicle also sustained serious injuries and were transported to Hilton Life Hospital for medical treatment.

Alexis Jayde van Wyk’s Culinary Ambitions

Alexis was a member of the Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine’s 2026 student class. Her published student profile highlighted her passion for developing her culinary skills and making the most of the training opportunities available to her.

She had expressed admiration for chef Jackie Cameron’s practical approach to teaching and her commitment to helping students develop their abilities.

Alexis hoped to expand her knowledge, strengthen her skills and discover her full potential through her culinary education. Her long-term ambition was to travel internationally and work as a chef on a yacht.

Her studies represented an important step towards pursuing that career.

Boyfriend Also Reportedly Injured

Reports circulating about the collision identify Alexis’s boyfriend, Aiden van Wyk, also 19, as another person involved in the crash.

According to those reports, the pair had been travelling home after Alexis completed her final high tea practical assessment for the year when the collision occurred.

Aiden was reportedly seriously injured and hospitalised in critical condition. The identities and reported medical conditions of the other occupants have also circulated, although these details have not been independently confirmed in the initial emergency services report.

Collision Circumstances

The precise circumstances that led to the collision have not been established in the available incident information.

The initial emergency services report confirms that two vehicles were involved, that occupants were trapped and that several people required medical assistance. It does not establish the cause of the crash.

Further verified information regarding the circumstances surrounding the collision and the latest condition of those injured remains outstanding.

Alexis’s reported death marks the loss of a young woman who was pursuing a future in the culinary profession. At 19, she had been developing her skills and working towards her ambition of becoming a chef.

Prime Time News extends its condolences to Alexis’s family, friends, classmates and everyone affected by this tragic incident.