Borderlands are spaces where the state’s territorial power and authority are most visibly enacted and contested. These regions are sites of governance where power manifests through institutional control, policy enforcement, and everyday interactions with the border. Governments and institutions often exercise authority in these areas to maintain the status quo, which can result in exclusion and marginalisation. Despite their significance, borderland communities and cross-border development planning remain under-examined within spatial planning discourse, particularly in the context of postcolonial borders in the African context. This research critically analyses the prioritisation of borders across different spheres of government, using Setsoto Local Municipality (LM) as a case study. Setsoto LM is historically significant due to its apartheid-era border legacies and its role as the site of the second busiest border post in the Free State Province, South Africa. The research interrogates how spatial planning policies and development frameworks at national, provincial, and municipal spheres of government conceptualise and prioritise borders, exposing inconsistencies and power relations that shape borderland governance. The research draws on conceptual and theoretical frameworks, including Henri Lefebvre’s spatial triad, Michel Foucault’s theorisation of power and Edward Soja’s thirdspace, to examine how spatial planning and governance structures influence border prioritisation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating census data analysis, site observation, policy review, and interviews with planners and borderland residents in Setsoto LM. The findings reveal that borderland communities are positioned within a paradox of constraint and opportunity, where economic hardship and infrastructural deficits coexist with cultural adaptation and local resilience, highlighting the urgent need to transform the borderlands from a space of marginalisation into one of empowerment. To bridge this gap, spatial planning must include strategies that account for migration patterns, housing demands, infrastructure gaps, climate risks, cultural sensitivity, and informal activities and embrace grassroots initiatives. Furthermore, there are significant disparities in border prioritisation across government spheres in Setsoto LM, reflecting competing interests and divergent spatial imaginaries. Institutional fragmentation and the absence of central coordination hinder coherent cross-border planning, limiting opportunities for collaboration and leaving pressing developmental challenges unaddressed. This research demonstrates that border regions are frequently marginalised in spatial planning, with national and provincial frameworks failing to account for the complexities of localised border conditions. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on border governance by illustrating how spatial planning reproduces structural inequalities in cross-border regions. It advances practical recommendations for policymakers, advocating for more integrated, context-sensitive approaches to borderland development that acknowledge these spaces' socio-economic and political realities.